A resident in Woolwich is claiming that litter from a nearby McDonald's is persistently dumped along a busy road.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed that Ruston Road is “regularly coated” with rubbish discarded by customers of the fast-food chain.
She told the News Shopper: “Customers frequently park up on the road itself and eject their rubbish they've collected out the window.”
She added: “If you've lived or worked in the area for any length of time, you'll be familiar with the sight of McDonald’s litter strewn along the paths and verges.
“I just don’t understand why people litter — I have even seen foxes eating McFlurrys.”
A spokesperson for McDonald's said that the company takes its responsibility to litter "very seriously" and conducts litter picks “three times a day.”
A McDonald's spokesperson told the News Shopper: “We strive to be a good neighbour in the Woolwich community.
“We collect not just McDonald’s branded packaging but all rubbish.”
While the resident acknowledged this, she pointed out that the problem extends beyond McDonald’s.
“I often see rubbish from other companies as well, like cans of Coke and bottles of water,” she said.
To tackle the issue, resident volunteer groups occasionally clear the refuse themselves, with occasional assistance from council street cleaners, according to the resident.
The woman added: “But, as you can see from the images, the litter returns almost as soon as it’s removed.
“There is one council-owned bin further down the road, but sadly, it seems customers seem to mostly view this as part of the scenery.”
The resident explained that the ownership of nearby verges is “unclear”, with neither the council nor the restaurant taking responsibility.
She told the News Shopper: “Years and years of litter has accumulated in the grasses and shrubbery.
“Presumably, it will continue to be so, unless the restaurant itself takes permanent action, the council redirects resources, or society changes enough that we no longer have to worry about this irresponsible habit.”
A spokesperson for Greenwich Council said that it takes concerns about littering "seriously" and cleans residential streets on a "weekly basis."
The Greenwich Council spokesperson added: "We are committed to ensuring our borough is a vibrant, attractive place that residents feel proud to live in.
"We clean residential streets on a weekly basis and are in contact with the nearby McDonald’s branch to help them make changes to reduce litter in the area.
“McDonald's conducts three litter picks per day and is increased during the school holidays.
"Everyone has a part to play to ensure the borough is kept clean and tidy. Fines will be issues to anyone who is caught littering in our borough."
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