Frustration Grows as Lidl in Shinfield Ignores Pleas from Residents Over Litter Problem

Lidl's have provided a response

Residents in Shinfield say they are fed up with being forced to clean up after Lidl, as the supermarket chain continues to ignore repeated requests to take responsibility for the mounting litter around its car park and surrounding public areas.

Locals say the problem has persisted for months, with packaging and rubbish—clearly from Lidl products—scattered regularly across the car park, nearby pavements, and green spaces. Despite numerous emails, phone calls, and attempts to contact Lidl's area manager, residents claim they've received no response or meaningful action.

“It’s a disgrace,” said one long-time Shinfield resident who regularly joins community clean-up efforts. “We are spending our weekends picking up bags full of Lidl-branded rubbish while the store sits back and does nothing. This isn’t just unsightly—it’s damaging to the environment and our sense of community.”

Photographs shared with Shinfield News show discarded Lidl shopping bags, drink cans, snack wrappers, and cardboard boxes strewn across the area. Volunteers from the community say they’ve taken it upon themselves to clean up, fearing the mess could become a health hazard or attract pests.

Efforts to engage Lidl have been met with silence. Several residents report that their emails and phone calls have gone unanswered, and some have attempted to speak directly with the store and area managers, only to be ignored.

“This is not a one-off,” said another local campaigner. “We’ve tried to engage constructively, we’ve been polite, we’ve even offered to meet them halfway—but we’ve had no acknowledgement whatsoever. Lidl is showing complete disregard for our community.”

Calls for the store to install more visible waste bins, increase maintenance of the premises, or engage with local environmental groups have so far gone unheard.

Residents are now calling on Wokingham Borough Council to step in and hold Lidl accountable under environmental and waste management regulations. Some are also considering raising the issue with local MP Yuan Yang.

“We want businesses like Lidl to thrive here,” said a volunteer who organises clean-ups, “but that doesn’t mean they get a free pass to pollute our community. If they want to be part of Shinfield, they need to show respect for it.”

Lidl has responded to Shinfield News:

We take great pride in maintaining a pleasant environment for our customers, both inside and outside our stores. Unfortunately, rubbish isn’t always disposed of correctly, and we understand the importance of keeping the area tidy – particularly given the store’s proximity to a local school and the high footfall. To help address this, our store team conducts regular site checks, and bins are available for public use. After being made aware of local concerns, we can confirm that we’ll be installing additional bins and increasing the frequency of checks moving forward. We’re also grateful to the members of the community who take the time to help keep the area tidy, and we appreciate this being brought to our attention so we can help maintain a pleasant environment for everyone.