Most common types of litter
Litter is usually wrappers, bottles, cans, bags and boxes from fast food premises but also includes chewing gum and cigarette waste - even cigarette butts; so you can still be fined for dropping small items such as these.
How litter impacts on our environment
Where an area looks dirty and uncared for, people living or passing through that area tend to feel unsafe. Heavily littered areas can encourage further crime and littering such as fly tipping, graffiti and fly posting. This downward spiral can result in more serious crimes and have a detrimental effect on the whole neighbourhood.
Wildlife and pets can be seriously injured by discarded litter such as plastic bags and broken glass.
Litter can take many years to biodegrade (break down). Cans take more than 80 years to decay and a plastic bottle has the potential to be with us forever.
Chewing gum is very difficult to remove and makes our footpaths and street furniture look unsightly.
Waste minimisation
Faced with diminishing landfill space and increasing costs of waste disposal, Bury Council urges all residents to cut back on waste as much as they can. We can do this by reducing, re-using and recycling.
Related information and links
Go to information about recycling facilities.
Go to information about recycling centres.
