Pioneering AI Initiative Tackles ‘Fast-Litter’ in Rural Hotspots

University of Gloucestershire has teamed up with Stroud District Council and Litter Free Stroud to unveil a groundbreaking project aimed at combating the pressing issue of litter in the district’s rural areas.

The problematic phenomenon known as ‘fast-litter’—characterised by the packaging of takeaway food and drink carelessly discarded from vehicles—has become increasingly evident, tarnishing the beauty of rural communities. The project’s initial findings reveal a concerning array of items tossed into verges and hedgerows, including vapes, water bottles, coffee cups and fast-food packaging, all of which detract from the countryside’s charm while posing a threat to local wildlife.

Supported by a £30,000 funding boost set to last until July 2026, this initiative brings together a diverse team of sociology, business, and computing academics along with community partners. Their mission? To harness the power of artificial intelligence in devising tools that will better inform and empower local authorities to address this escalating environmental challenge.

At the project’s core is an AI-enabled mobile app and dashboard, designed by tech experts from University of Gloucestershire’s School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences. The app enables communities to easily report fast-litter in rural hotspots, allowing Stroud District Council to analyse the data and uncover significant patterns.

Dr. Richard Cook, Principal Investigator at the University and a leading authority in environmental sociology, said: “Fast-litter is a growing problem in rural areas. As more fast-food brands offer drive-through options, we are seeing a marked increase in litter across the countryside.

“This partnership with Stroud District Council and Litter Free Stroud gives us the opportunity to understand the scale of the issue and use cutting-edge technology to support real change. By introducing a new app, volunteer litter pickers simply need to photograph discarded items on their smartphone. This then logs the location and identifies the food brand that sold the item before it became rubbish, providing valuable insights to guide policy and inform interventions.

“As the technology behind the app uses open source AI, there is also the opportunity to roll this scheme out nationally, or adapt it for different social causes.”

The data collected through this initiative aims to build understanding of fast-litter behaviours, bolster public engagement campaigns, and facilitate vital discussions with fast-food retailers regarding their environmental responsibilities. In addition to the technological rollout, the project promises an array of public engagement activities, such as social media campaigns, vlogs and a community exhibition scheduled for July 2026.

Cllr Gill Thomas, Member Champion for Litter and Clean Environment at Stroud District Council, said: “Litter damages our countryside, harms wildlife, and undermines the rural environment that our communities value so deeply. These fast-litter items are becoming increasingly troublesome because they do not easily breakdown, meaning that as well as being unsightly, they can contaminate the soil and our watercourses.

“This partnership with University of Gloucestershire allows us to combine community action with world-class research and digital innovation. Together we can take a smarter, more proactive approach to tackling fast-litter.”

Eric Torrington from Litter Free Stroud, said: “I am delighted to support the project, as one of my core campaign aims is to turn anecdotal litter-picking into clear, evidence-based data, helping to show exactly where litter hotspots are and what types of waste are most common. This will enable more effective, targeted prevention and policy interventions.

“Since 2018, I estimate I’ve picked up over 700,000 litter items, and a lot of it is food-on-the-go litter.”

The initiative not only seeks to create a tangible impact across the Stroud District but also generate academic insights that will influence local and national policy, ultimately securing long-term funding to expand the programme.