Innovative community projects to tackle litter louts have been awarded government funding.

Councils, charities, businesses, and public projects were granted almost £125,000 to take tackle littering in their communities.

The funding builds on the government’s wider Litter Strategy for England and its 25-year plan to protect and enhance the natural environment.

Successful bidders to the Litter Innovation Fund include councils, charities, businesses, and public projects.

Standard litter picking activities are not within the scope of the fund.

The government says successful small scale local research projects could be replicated more widely.

The fund provides grants up to £10,000. It is intended to be used to help investigate and implement innovative ways of reducing litter arisings.

 Launching the scheme, Defra minister Thérèse Coffey said the new projects would help keep places clean.

    New projects

"These innovative new projects will help reduce the amount of litter which so often plagues our streets, parks, countryside, rivers and marine environment.

"We have all seen the damaging effects that litter can have on wildlife and the environment, and I encourage people to do their bit, take responsibility for their litter and recycle more.

Keeping the country’s streets clean cost local Government almost £700 million last year.

The government says much of this is avoidable litter – yet one in five people admit to dropping litter.

    Wider strategy

Successful projects include developing bins to prevent seagulls from scattering litter on beaches.

A total of £45,000 of grant funding has been set aside for projects aimed specifically at reducing litter entering the marine environment.

Communities minister Rishi Sunak said: "The Litter Innovation Fund is part of our wider strategy to deliver a substantial reduction in litter and littering while leaving a cleaner, greener and tidier environment for the next generation.

"I am looking forward to seeing these projects supporting that strategy while helping communities make a real difference in their area."

A second round of applications will be launched shortly.