An army of “elves” has been raising awareness of the problems caused by roadside litter to ahead of the festive period.
School children in Sedgemoor joined National Highways, and motorway service operator Roadchef, by volunteering to help turn litter into glitter – transforming rubbish commonly found discarded on motorways and major A-roads into festive Christmas decorations.
Their efforts come as part of National Highways’ ongoing drive to reduce roadside rubbish, following a new survey which has revealed more than a fifth of drivers admit to littering on the UK’s major roads. 
Freda Rashdi, Head of Customer Journeys at National Highways, said: “We don’t want a lot for Christmas, and we certainly won’t be wishing for snow, but what we do want is for everyone to have safe and smooth journeys over Christmas.
“Having to clear up litter on our roads causes unnecessary journey delays and costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a year, as well as endangering wildlife living close to our roads. If you are driving home for Christmas, please dispose of your rubbish responsibly and help to make sure everyone gets to spend as much time with their loved ones as possible.”
Pupils from Castlefell School in Sedgemoor have been putting up the final festive trimmings at Roadchef’s Sedgemoor Southbound Services, with a total of eight Christmas litter trees and arches put up across England.
The children have transformed items such as discarded crisp packets and disposable cups into animal themed decorations.
The school is part of Witherslack Group, which has 26 schools across England that were also partnered with a local service station.
Jude Jones, CEO of Witherslack Group, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our pupils for being a part of this fabulous initiative. Turning roadside litter into festive decorations not only helps improve our local environment but also teaches our children and young people the importance of taking responsibility for the world around them.
“It’s fantastic to see them actively making a difference, and initiatives like this inspire our pupils to develop habits and behaviours that will benefit their communities for years to come.”
Stuart Attfield, Head of Marketing at Roadchef, said: “We’re proud to support this initiative with National Highways. Seeing school children turn roadside litter into glitter is a brilliant reminder that small actions can make a big difference.
“By joining forces, we can reduce litter on the UK’s motorways and help keep our roads happier, safer, greener and more welcoming for everyone this Christmas.”
The newly published survey reveals that many drivers may be landing themselves on the naughty list – with only 11% saying they feel guilty about others having to work over Christmas to clean up their litter. Over a third also do not consider how littering could injure or even kill wildlife.
This festive period, road users have their own role to play. By binning their litter, they can help keep journeys merry, smooth, and safe for both people and wildlife.
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