Governments across the UK should increase fines for littering 

Littering - the incorrect disposal of small amounts of waste - is wholly avoidable and unnecessary. Not only does it spoil surroundings and is thoroughly aggravating for the vast majority of people, it also has a negative ecological impact and costs the taxpayer millions each year. 

Chemicals from litter which is not disposed of properly can negatively impact soil quality, create pest and rodent problems in urban areas, as well as detrimentally affecting water quality if discarded in rivers, canals or streams. In addition to this, if wildlife ingest it when mistaking it for food, it can choke or poison them. 

The public picks up the tab for this. Notwithstanding the social and environmental costs of littering, street cleaning costs taxpayers an estimated £700 million a year according to the Government’s own estimates. 

Elsewhere in the world, cities are kept a lot cleaner thanks to stronger penalties for littering. In Calgary, littering fines range between £150-£290, and in Singapore, littering can attract a fine of up to £2,750. Both cities have been consistently ranked in the top 10 cleanest cities in the world. 

In the UK, fixed penalty notices differ in each nation, but remain relatively low. For example, in England, fixed penalty notices issued by authorised authorities or the police for littering range from £65 to a maximum of £150. 

The UK should take inspiration from cities overseas which uphold tougher measures against litterbugs. The public feels the same way. Recent Bright Blue polling identified that 76% of the UK public believe fines for littering should be higher.

We urge governments across the UK to increase the maximum fixed penalty notice for littering. But any revenue from these fixed penalty notices should have to be ring-fenced by local authorities for spending on measures that improve the environment in their local area. 

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