11/04/2017.
Litter louts could face fines up to £150 and drivers could receive a fixed penalty if their passengers throw litter from their vehicles, under measures proposed as part of the first ‘Litter Strategy for England’ to reduce the near £800m current cost of cleaning up litter.
‘Reducing litter: penalties for environmental offences’ * seeks views, from vehicle hire and rental companies among others, on
- measures increasing section 88 fixed penalties in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for littering and other environmental offences
- draft regulations introducing new regulations to enable councils to issue fixed penalties to the keeper of a vehicle from which litter is thrown, where the litterer cannot be identified. These rules are already in force in London
Other proposed measures in ‘Litter Strategy for England’ include
- issuing new guidance to councils on applying new designs and better distribution of public litter bins
- stopping councils from charging householders for disposal of DIY household waste at civic amenity sites
- recommending that offenders on community sentences help councils clear up litter and fly-tipped waste
- working with Highways England to target the 25 worst litter hotspots across our road network
- educating children to lead the fight against litter
- creating a new expert group to look at further ways of cutting the worst kinds of litter
In addition, the strategy outlines measures to build on the success of the 5p plastic bag charge to protect seas, oceans and marine life from pollution. Funding will also be available to support community initiatives to tackle litter.