Residents are asked to get involved with the charity’s survey to count the types and brands of litter that blight communities across the country. Keep Britain Tidy can then work with those companies whose brands are littered the most to reduce the waste left by their customers.

Phil Barton, Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, said: “Cleaning up litter costs taxpayers almost £1 billion a year in England. We need everyone’s eyes on the ground to help us find out which products are littered the most. People are fed up with littering, and most people love where they live. So we’re giving an outlet for their frustration, and asking them to arm us with the facts so we can work with those companies to keep England clean and green.”

Anyone wanting to get involved in the Great Litter Count can visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/littercount or email enquiries@keepbritaintidy.org . The survey will take place until the end of Monday 21 April. Keep Britain Tidy will then compile the data, alongside the findings of its qualified surveyors, to release the annual results and it wants 2014 to be the most comprehensive year yet.

Smarter York aims to help maintain a clean, green and safe environment for York. The initiative encourages and works with residents to create attractive neighbourhoods with a real sense of community and to tackle the things that can spoil our neighbourhoods for example littering or graffiti. For more information please visit www.york.gov.uk/smarteryork or follow @SmarterYork on Twitter.