Lutz you only have to drive down OUR roads and even the narrowest of lanes to see we are the sick man of Europe when it comes to rubbish. Infact the whole country is an open rubbish dump/sewer. Its a vicious cycle, in the winter when plant life has died down you can see our verges are littered with everything imagineable, and I'm not talking about fly tippers who are the scum of the earth. Thankfully new growth comes in the spring which hides it, that is until it's mown later in the summer then all the mangled, chewed up rubbish is thrown into view again.
Our towns, inspite of local councils cleaning efforts, are the filthiest, there are third world countries cleaner.The countries recycling efforts are pathetic, plastics, tins etc are collected fortnightly but if I take any larger plastics like sheeting to the refuse centre it goes into landfill skips.
Just walking around town you see mothers unwrapping sweets for their children then throwing the wrappings on the floor, all the pavements are covered in discarded chewing gum. Drive behind someone and the window comes down and out goes a cigarette packet or fast food container. Graffiti is everywhere from paint aerosol cans (culprits who are caught should be made to clean it off with their tongues then the can shoved up their jacksy). One problem that I'm pleased to say is a lot better where I live than it was 10 years ago is dog dumps all over the place, but there are places I've visited where things haven't changed. You only have to go on a dog walk at a caravan site to see what I mean. Lots of people have no pride in where they live or how they live so why should they give a dogsdump about global warming or recycling. Sorry Lutz, I'm in your camp but in the U.K. a lot of people either aren't prepared to be educated and take pride in their surroundings or are too bone idle.