Maximum litter fines are to almost double next year and drivers will be held responsible for rubbish thrown from their cars, the minister for the environment revealed today.
Under current rules, councils are able to fine people up to £80 for dropping litter in order to deter the anti-social behaviour.
However, today environment minister Thérèse Coffey announced that new measures were being introduced to tackle ‘litter louts’.
From April, 2018 councils will be able to impose on-the-spot fines of up to £150. They will also be able to fine drivers for litter discarded from their cars regardless of who was responsible.
‘Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside and taxpayers’ money is wasted cleaning it up,’ said Ms Coffey.
‘Throwing rubbish from a vehicle is just as unacceptable as dropping it in the street and we will tackle this antisocial behaviour by hitting litter louts in the pocket.
‘These new fines will make sure the perpetrators, not the local community, bear the cost of keeping our streets and roads clean.’
The changes to fines for littering follow a public consultation as part of the launch of England’s first ever Litter Strategy in April 2017.
More than 85% of respondents were in favour of increasing fixed penalties for littering, while councils agreed new penalties to tackle littering from cars would help to improve environmental quality in their area.
