Councils in England are to get tougher on litter rules when considering planning applications for new hot food takeaways.
New guidance issued by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will give councils advice on what rules they can enforce when new takeaways open, such as ensuring they install more bins and anti-litter signs around shops or have staff members pick up litter regularly.
Failing to adhere to these rules could result in financial penalties.
The move is designed to help create cleaner town centres, with figures showing that fast food items are the fourth most common type of litter found on UK high streets.
Levelling up secretary Greg Clark said: “We are empowering councils to make sure new takeaway food businesses are doing their bit to stop rubbish littering our high streets.
“It is just one of the many ways we are improving the environment and making sure we can all take pride in the local communities we call home.”
A number of councils are already putting these requests into place, such as Gateshead Council which has ordered new takeaways to provide litter bins for customers.
The announcement is part of wider measures to create safer and cleaner spaces and follows new funding announced by the environment secretary to remove chewing gum stains from high streets.
