Warwick District Council’s contractors idverde carry out the cleanse of the 18km stretch of the A46 including the lay-bys and central reservation twice per year. The latest cleanse took place over 10 nights in March 2026.

The team use a rolling lane closure to direct traffic away from the area they’re cleansing and work through the night to clear litter and debris from the roadside including bottles, wrappers, and other discarded items.

The team also recovered tyres, car seats and pallets, and cleared over 15,000kg of debris including leaves, mud and road sweepings.

Councillor Will Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood, said:

“I would like to thank the hardworking team at idverde for working in such hazardous conditions to cleanse the A46, and for the work they do to keep our district tidy.

“This is a staggering and simply unacceptable amount of litter that has been discarded on a fast and busy road, posing a potential hazard to road users and wildlife. If it’s in your vehicle with you, then when you’ve used it just take it home with you; it really is that simple.”