Would you report someone dropping litter on purpose ?
By Traceyjayne
@Traceyjayne (7423)
United Kingdom
January 30, 2026 10:27am CST
This is a subject I heard being discussed on the radio yesturday.
You know how it is , you have a snack or some fast food whilst in the car ….what do you do with the wrapping?
Take it home with you and put it in your bin or throw it out of the car window ?
For me it has to be take it home, …..seeing people throw things out of a window really annoys me ….
However listening to the debate I realise that people have different views ….
One suggestion was to make the wrappers edible …..if I had a snack I would NOT want to eat the wrapping…..
Another suggestion was if the snack was from a takeaway or drive thru to put the car reg on the packaging or receipt so that if it was dumped you could trace the person…..
I think this is a good idea ……
Another suggestion was if reported and caught to fine the person ….( this is sometimes done I believe ).
I think this is a good idea.
Lots of people were offering opinions , some agreeing , some disagreeing, …..
One person said if he threw rubbish out of his car window and was reported and he found out who reported him …..( he realised what he was about to say at this point ….) he said he wouldn’t be happy with that person…..
I think some revenge would be had…..even though he was the person doing wrong !!!
Anyway, what do you think …… ?
9 people like this
7 responses
@Fleura (33685)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan
As someone who voluntarily picks up litter from the road verges, I would definitely report someone if I saw them throw litter from the car. But of course it happens so quickly and it's so hard to catch the registration of a passing vehicle that it never happens. If I had the evidence though - for example dashcam footage of the person in front of my in a traffic queue throwing their rubbish out, then yes I certainly would.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14159)
• Ireland
30 Jan
@traceyjayne I don’t see why people can’t take their rubbish home with them. I saw a man drop a packet of sweets as he was leaving a shop in Paris once. I picked them up and helpfully ran after him and his child and gave the sweets to him and said “You just dropped that back there” and realised as I handed it to him that it was an empty packet! He looked furious.
@JudyEv (370500)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jan
You can be fined here for littering but I don't think it happens too often.
@MoonMaa (596)
• United States
31 Jan
If it kept happening more than one time but I think it would be safe to report them anonymously. With that being said I can't stand when people litter. Some people won't even throw it in the trash can even if there is one nearby. People can be so lazy and trifiling sometimes.
@DaddyEvil (166737)
• United States
30 Jan
We bring our trash home with us and it goes into the trash in the house. (Pretty throws it in the passenger side floorboard and I take it in. At least she doesn't throw it out the window. )
Yes, having a way to identify the vehicle it came from would be a good option if it was takeaway foods. Fine the crap out of anyone throwing litter on the ground instead of in a trashcan seems best.
