Litter enforcement

[997.1]

There’s a guardian article saying that councils now have statutory powers to enforce fines on people seen littering

Max fine £500

Seems pretty wild and purely for revenue generation

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/03/litt...

[Delahorney]

People that litter are a scourge on society. Frankly, a fine is the lesser option I’d choose to inflict on them.

[KungFuPanda]

Don’t litter.

But if you do get caught by one of these enforcement officers, they have no legal powers of detention nor can they force you to provide them with your details. So just walk off on silence. There’s nothing they can do.

[Zetec-S]

I have no issue with fining people for littering, although perhaps £500 is a bit disproportionate. In this case I have no sympathy for the person who put their coffee cup in the bag of rubbish next to the full bin, they should have found a different bin or taken the cup home. Putting something next to a bin is littering, can't see how you can argue otherwise.

What I do disagree with is the way they go about it, because you can bet that it will be poor Bert and Mavis on a day out who accidentally drop a tissue who get hit with the fines, but a bunch of hooded up teenagers dumping their McDonalds wrappers on the pavement won't get challenged.

[CoolHands]

Unfortunately councils then give a fat contract to companies like Kingdom Services Group (as Harrow did) who then employ meatheads to intimidate and threaten the public.

That’s what’s is the real disgrace. More and more surveillance of the public is not the answer.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/council-offi...

[ChevronB19]

Delahorney said:

People that litter are a scourge on society. Frankly, a fine is the lesser option I d choose to inflict on them.

Read the story.

[Doesitdrive]

The biggest problem is giving a primark uniform and a level of power to minimum wage police wannabes. Probably with the promise of a bonus.

They could be used to educate, politely point out to people the error of their ways, fine repeat offenders, they should get to know the ones on their patch.

Will never happen though, its point blank fine the plebs that don't have a uniform.

[Zetec-S]

ChevronB19 said:

Read the story.

The story is that someone admitted to littering but doesn't think that they did.

Whether the way in which they go about enforcing the penalties, or whether the fines are disproportionate is another matter.

[steveo3002]

id rather there was staff to deal with major littering like fly tipping and overflowing bins rather than pick on people that drop a cig end , sure its all wrong but sort the bigger offenders first

[irc]

I don't agree with littering but £500 is over the top. In comparison risking other people's lives by using your phone at the wheel is only a £200 fine.

[997.1]

I’m in Switzerland at the moment. The other day on the Montreux Riviera, there were two people on bikes patrolling looking for litter. They were also seen emptying bins and putting rubbish into the trailers at the back of their bikes. Lots of bins everywhere with space in them so why would anyone litter

Waterloo station, on the other hand. Busy busy busy place. Extra resources should be put into place to ensure bins have space for litter. Taking a coffee cup home? Really?

[CoolHands]

It’s wrong and unjustifiable but some on here, and in real life, will still pretend it’s ok.

[Mr Pointy]

The last time this subject came up it was claimed they had to give you a chance to pick up something you had dropped: is this actually true?

[119]

997.1 said:

I m in Switzerland at the moment. The other day on the Montreux Riviera, there were two people on bikes patrolling looking for litter. They were also seen emptying bins and putting rubbish into the trailers at the back of their bikes. Lots of bins everywhere with space in them so why would anyone litter

Waterloo station, on the other hand. Busy busy busy place. Extra resources should be put into place to ensure bins have space for litter. Taking a coffee cup home? Really?

Must admit i'm struggling to understand why she couldn't have taken it home or to her destination, or even held on to it until she found an empty bin.

Not difficult.

[redrabbit29]

Saw this on FB

[CoolHands]

So, council not doing their job then.

[pteron]

The council can employ people to fine us for littering but can't employ people to empty the bloody bins?

If she'd just dropped it somewhere then sure, but there was a bin - it just wasn't emptied as often as it should have been.

[Delahorney]

If the bin is overflowing, you should hold on to your rubbish and find a bin that has room. Adding it to a pile that is hanging on to, or on top of a full bin is lazy.

[slievenashaska]

Delahorney said:

If the bin is overflowing, you should hold on to your rubbish and find a bin that has room. Adding it to a pile that is hanging on to, or on top of a full bin is lazy.

As lazy as the council not doing its job properly by emptying the bins before they are overflowing, but employing staff to stake out the bins it knows are overflowing to be able to fine people.

[BoRED S2upid]

I read the article they actually put their coffee cup in a bin bag and still got fined.

These aren’t police issuing the fines so what’s stopping you just doing a runner? These aren’t police woman in the article handed over her name and passport.