Carparks Totnes: A Litter Crisis That Can’t Be Ignored
Ashton Stanley & Louis Whittlesea are pupils at The Totnes Independent School with something to say:
We are Louis & Ashton; environment enthusiasts who live in South Devon and attend Totnes Independent School. Every morning and evening, we walk through the Morrisons car park near our school, and every time, we see the same thing—rubbish everywhere. Plastic bottles, food packaging, beer cans, even a used needle once. It’s not just unsightly; it’s dangerous. This isn’t just a messy car park—it’s an environmental hazard, and no one seems to be taking responsibility.
A Growing Problem
We’ve been litter-picking here for over a year now. At first, it was just an occasional effort, but when we saw how bad it was getting, we stepped it up. The car park backs onto the River Dart, potentially one of the most polluted rivers in the country. When rubbish isn’t cleared, the wind and rain carry it straight into the water. It’s frustrating to think that every crisp packet or plastic bottle left behind could be adding to the pollution in the river.
We decided to do something about it. We spoke to the Deputy Manager at Morrisons, who assured us that a cleaning team comes out every morning to deal with the litter. So we checked, day after day—and nothing changed. We went back and spoke to who we believed was the Deputy Manager, but it turns out, he wasn’t. He told us they were hiring a litter picker for 10 hours a week. Weeks passed, but if anything, the litter problem got worse.
Who Should Be Taking Responsibility?
The car park is owned by Euro Car Parks, a company that is seemingly impossible to contact. But Morrisons is the face of this problem. Their name is on the building, and their customers are the ones using the car park. When we spoke to who we believed was the Deputy Manager again, he admitted that this is one of the worst Morrisons car parks for litter in the South West. If that’s the case, why is nothing being done?
A filthy, rubbish-strewn car park is bad for their image, bad for the community, and bad for the environment. We wish to see more bins and recycling stations, signage to encourage customers to dispose of waste properly and a move to less plastic in their packaging which they say they are doing on their website, but we think they could do more.
The Bigger Picture
Littering and fly-tipping don’t just make places look untidy. They harm wildlife, pollute natural spaces, and create health risks. Much of the litter we collect is buried in hedgerows, home to birds and small mammals. The longer it sits there, the more damage it does.
This isn’t just about Morrisons—it’s about taking responsibility for our surroundings. The solution isn’t difficult:
- Hire a proper litter-picking team – One person working 10 hours a week is not enough.
- Provide more bins and empty them regularly – Overflowing bins contribute to the problem.
- Enforce litter policies and take ownership of the issue – Morrisons might not own the car park, but they rely on it.
- Encourage the community to get involved – If people see action being taken, they’re more likely to respect the space.
What Can We Do?
If you shop at Morrisons in Totnes, take a moment to look around. If you see rubbish, pick it up. If you see a problem, speak up. Morrisons and Euro Car Parks might be ignoring this issue, but that doesn’t mean we have to.
We’ll keep doing what we can—before and after school, because we want to see an improvement.
Littering is a choice. Cleaning up is a choice. Taking responsibility is a choice. It’s time Morrisons made the right one by providing more bins & emptying them more. It would also help greatly if there was less packaging in the first place!.
“It’s so refreshing to see to young people taking care of the environment” Local resident Rob Mclaughlin commented
Morrisons replied to Ashton’s messages;
Wonderful to see young people taking responsibility and showing care for their environment. You are a credit to your parents, your schools and to yourselves. Well done.