More bins should be put alongside major roads such as the A14 to help cut down on littering, an MP has said.
However others have warned that while more bins alongside main road would be welcome, it will not solve the problem unless litter louts act more responsibly in the first place.
Rubbish left strewn along the side of A-roads is a bugbear for many motorists, leaving an eyesore on the side of the road.
In her role as parliamentary under-secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey has pledged to work to try and reducing littering.
Local authorities were given new powers in April this year to give on-the-spot fines of up to £150 to vehicle owners if it can be proved litter was thrown from their car.
Ms Coffey said the issue of roadside litter is “particularly problematic”, adding: “Our roads and highways are the gateways to our towns and cities, and litter by the roadside gives a bad impression of our country.
“Furthermore, clearing that litter from the side of busy roads is a dangerous and expensive job for councils and their employees.”
But she said that while littering should never be excused, more facilities are needed for long-distance drivers such as hauliers to dispose of their waste.
In a parliamentary debate about the issue, she said: “Thinking about the particular issues faced by hauliers, who spend many hours living in their cabs, it is important to provide suitable facilities for them to dispose of their litter and other waste.
“In my constituency I have the port of Felixstowe and the A14, which is one of the busiest transit parts of the strategic road network, so I am very conscious of the things that can often appear.”
She said she stood by a commitment to “work with local councils, ports and the haulage industry to improve facilities for hauliers and others to dispose of their litter and waste”.
But she added: “However, that does not excuse littering behaviour in the meantime by people who work in that industry.
“As I am concerned, if litter is thrown out of an HGV, we should pursue those people, but it is for local councils to take that action.”
Mick Allison, 65, from Ipswich, said: “Littering is a state of mind.
“It doesn’t help when takeaway companies don’t take responsibility for educating their customers more fully than they need to.
“There is a blatant disregard with what we do with waste. It’s not just about it looking pretty nasty, it’s the impact on birds who get their heads stuck in plastic and on other wildlife.
“In designated areas, there ought to be enough facilities. There ought to be a bin in every lay-by.
“But people ought to take responsibly and take it home. You can’t have bins everywhere. If you have more bins, there are more to collect. Just because you have more bins doesn’t mean you have less litter.”
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