AS A volunteer litter picker with Dorset Devils I can confirm that this is the worst year for litter, though litter is too polite a word.

It is rubbish that is being dumped – often within a very few feet of a litter bin.

Bottles and cans are dropped on the ground, thrown over the cliff top fences and perhaps worst of all, after the food and drink has been consumed within a motor vehicle, the door is opened and the food and drink cartons are carefully placed on the road!

Another feature of modern life are the number of discarded portable barbecues which are left around the green areas (a potential fire hazard).

These cannot easily be dealt with by litter pickers as the remnants take time to cool.

Another development is the use of logs to make small bonfires on the beach.

These are usually hidden in the sand and take many hours to cool down and represent a danger to beach users.

So what can be done?

We need more bins and regular and more collections throughout the day at peak times.

I do realise that councils want to cut down on roadside advertising or public announcement signs, but perhaps temporary boards or solar-powered signs could be erected on the main routes into town with a simple message about litter.

Also, along St Pauls Road, near Asda, there are billboards which could be rented for the summer holiday period for that same purpose.

It might have some effect.

Signs along the beach might encourage some of the motorists who park along the front not to discard their rubbish on the beach.

Finally, local authorities could try to persuade the government to require drinks manufacturers to place a small returnable deposit on all drinks cans and bottles.

This would, in my opinion, help resolve the problem and cut down on landfill problems.

PETER GORDON

Keverstone Court, Bournemouth

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