Littering
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Chewing gum, cigarette ends, food leftovers, bottles and cans - litter is a big problem and one we're getting tough on through our Don't Stand For It! campaign against enviro-crimes.
Read on to find out what you can do about litter, litter louts and how the new laws might affect you.
What is littering and why is it a problem?
Littering is when someone drops or leaves behind their rubbish instead of putting it in a bin or taking it home. Litter can be anything from uneaten food and wrappers to newspapers or even something as small as a cigarette end. Litter is an eyesore, is expensive to clear up and attracts insects and rats.
Small amounts of discarded rubbish are classed as litter, but larger quantities are considered Fly-tipped Waste and are dealt with very differently.
What can we do about it?
We can issue an £80 penalty notice on the spot to people who drop litter if it's a first offence. In other cases, or if a fixed penalty isn't paid, this could even lead to a court fine of up to £2500.
If we catch young people (between 14 and 16) littering and they refuse to clean it up we can issue the penalty notice to their home address, and their parents will have to pay up.
Enforcement Officers operate throughout the District and are in plain clothes. They may also target motorists who throw litter out of their vehicles by working with the DVLA to identify offenders.
What should you do?
Some people think that leaving uneaten food behind because it is 'bio-degradable' is ok, but this is still classed as litter and it may attract vermin. Disposing of it properly will help keep our surroundings clean and healthy.
Chewing gum is a real problem as once it's stuck it's hard to get off (and has a habit of sticking to other things like shoes and clothes). It's better off wrapped in a bit of paper and popped in a bin - we have hundreds all over the district.
Cigarette ends - even matches - are just as much litter as a whole newspaper, if you drop it someone else will have to pick it up and that's just not on. Even if you drop or spill something accidentally you should try to clear it up, otherwise you might just as easily get served with a penalty notice as someone who deliberately litters.
Basically if it's yours and you don't want it - put it in a bin or take it with you.
How to report littering
If you see someone littering, or want to report a litter problem, contact our Clean and Green hotline, the details are below, or report it now using our online Enviro-crime form.
Don't Stand For It - Report Littering Online!
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