A FED-UP councillor has called on big-name food and drink companies to commit to cleaning up the local areas in which they operate due to a surge in litter dropped near premises.

Coun Kevin Osborne, who represents the Darfield ward, spoke out at last Thursday’s full council meeting and urged firms to step up to help the town’s army of litter-picking volunteers.

Incidents of littering have climbed in recent months and all six of Barnsley’s area councils - which are each responsible for their own wards - commission services to combat the issue.

However, Coun Osborne urged fast-food operators in particular to help their local areas due to the amount of associated waste which has been dropped following consumption.

“During the July meeting of the South Area Council, we made a small change to the service level agreement to the South Environmental Caretaker Service,” he said.

“The service conducts both proactive and responsive tasks and Darfield appears to have benefitted more from this new contracted provision than that was supplied previously.

“I, like many others in the council chamber and across our borough, engage in volunteer litter picks and as such I continue to be disappointed by those who choose to drop their waste in my community.

“Those responsible seem to live on a diet of cigarettes, alcohol, fast food and ironically energy drinks.

“It’s such a pity that we must use our limited resources to pick up after those lazy people who are clearly determined to the wrong thing.

“However, I firmly believe the solution to littering lies in adapting and making changes to the process that involves not only disposal but also brings to account production and consumption.

“Behaviour modification of those who choose to litter is difficult.

“Perhaps by challenging those who create and sell these seemingly disposable products should shoulder a greater burden of the costs of disposal?

“Why don’t the multi-national, fast-food chains be compelled to conduct litter patrols not just close to their takeaway restaurants but where some of their customers throw their litter away?

“Until that day comes, I will continue to support our South Environmental Caretaker Service, which in an ideal world would never need to exist.”

Barnsley Council’s new ‘litter and environmental crime plan’ - which was approved by ruling cabinet members in the summer - sets out a tougher stance up to 2030 after Barnsley was named the fourth-worst place in the country for excess waste blighting its streets.

Dropping cigarette ends and litter - two of the most prevalent issues - carry fines of up to £100.

A council report said tackling littering - which will subsequently clear up the borough’s image - remains a ‘priority’ and the new refreshed strategy will help.

It added: “To ensure that the strategy reflects the views and needs of local people who care about the environment, we held a networking event for all volunteers who are involved in litter-picking and other environmental activities.

“We invited them to join us in co-producing the litter and environmental crime plan for the borough, and they formed a forum with representatives from different areas of the borough to work with the council officers and councillors.

“We wanted to co-produce a plan that recognises the benefits of working together rather than in individual silos as there are great levels of volunteer participation in the borough, and we have limited resources and need local intelligence and solutions.

“They are the eyes and ears of our communities and can help us identify the problems and improve the situation.

“Co-production is key to tackling this issue in Barnsley - environmental crime is identified, year after year, as a priority for the people of Barnsley.

“Most littering offences dealt with via fixed penalty in Barnsley, but littering creates problems for communities and result in unnecessary expenses for services.

“When the environment is degraded, it often indicates broader deterioration, affecting public spaces, quality of life and people’s sense of pride in their community.

“There is no excuse for littering and environmental crime and it will not be tolerated in our borough.”