THE government has launched a new strategy to combat litter.

The litter strategy aims to educate, enforce and provide infrastructure to deliver a substantial reduction in litter and the behaviour associated with it.

Measures in the scheme would include volunteers from offenders on community orders, launching a fund to support community projects and educating children to become a ‘green generation.’ Part of the plans would also stop councils from charging householders for disposal of DIY household waste at amenity sites.

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, said: “I am hugely encouraged by these steps taken by the government because I know how important these issues are to people in my constituency.

“I have joined in with many groups of volunteers, such as the Middlewich Clean Team, who work extremely hard to keep our towns, villages and railway stations clean and tidy.

“I know from going out with these teams what a huge amount of litter is thoughtlessly dropped and it would be far better if people didn’t drop it in the first place.

“Reducing litter will also help keep council tax costs down, has got to be a good thing.”

New powers will also be given to councils outside London to fine the registered keeper of a vehicle from which litter is thrown.

The strategy would commit to a new national anti-littering campaign starting in 2018.