Litter costs lives

Annually, the RSPCA receives over 7,000 phone calls about litter-related incidents and our officers regularly rescue pets, farm and wild animals trapped or hurt by discarded litter.

With many pet and farm owners going direct to vets, and many injured wild animals never being found, it is estimated that this figure is just the tip of the iceberg. 

Preventable incidents

Here are just some of the preventable incidents we have dealt with. Many more animals are harmed or killed because of carelessly discarded rubbish.

• A fox cub with its head stuck in a dumped wheel hub.
   
• A badger cub with a plastic can holder embedded in its neck.
   
• A cat that lacerated the footpad of its paw on some broken glass.
   
• A dog with its tongue caught in a discarded can.
   
• A cow with its head stuck in a fly-tipped washing machine.
   
• A seal with fishing net caught around its neck.
   
• A dog that cut an artery on a sharp piece of metal.
   
• A cat with its head caught in a tin can.

What you can do to help

Protecting pets, farm animals and wildlife from harmful rubbish is straightforward – simply dispose of your waste responsibly. 

1. Recycle and reuse where you can
2. Otherwise take your rubbish home and put it in a bin.

Everyday objects can become hazards to animals

• Balloons
  Once balloons burst, animals can mistake them for food and can choke. Avoid balloon releases, as the balloons can land anywhere, and cut used balloons into pieces before putting in the bin.
   
• Containers and cans
  Attracted by leftovers, animals will forage inside and get their heads trapped. Larger animals may get their tongues caught or damaged by sharp edges. Animals such as cats, foxes, gulls, rats and dogs often rummage in rubbish bins. Clean cans and containers, drop lids inside cans, and cut containers in half or pinch cans shut. Try to recycle where possible.
   
• Elastic bands
  These get caught around necks of small animals and beaks of birds. They can also be swallowed, causing an animal to choke. Whenever possible reuse bands, and cut them open before putting them in a bin.
   
• Fishing tackle
  Line can get caught around legs, wings, necks and beaks, and hooks can pierce skin and muscle or be swallowed causing internal injuries. It is estimated that around 8,000 swan rescues take place each year. Many of these swans have injuries caused by fishing tackle.
  
  - Take unwanted line home and cut it into small pieces before putting it in a bin.
  
  - Wrap hooks in newspaper before putting in a bin.
   
• 
  Glass
  Bottles and jars break easily, leaving sharp pieces that can cause serious injury. Animals can get trapped in glass jars, like the fox cub pictured here. Clean and then recycle glass at a bottle bank.
    
• Plastic bags
  Animals can climb inside and suffocate, or eat them and choke. Tie a knot in all bags before disposing of them or, better still, reuse or recycle. Each bag takes hundreds of years to decompose and are not broken down once eaten so can kill more than one animal.
   
• Plastic can holders
  Animals can get entangled, causing deep sores, wounds and choking. Always cut the loops before putting in a rubbish or recycling bin.