By 600 people fined so far in 2021 for littering in North East Lincolnshire
600 people have been fined for littering in North East Lincolnshire in 2021 alone in the Council’s “fight against litter”.
Between 1 January and 30 September, 427 people were fined £100 by Council officers for dropping litter – and a further 142 cases occurred in which people attended court for failing to pay the fixed penalty notice.
194 motorists are also being investigated for littering from their vehicles.
According to Keep Britain Tidy, the most common littered items consecutively are cigarette ends, sweet wrappers, cans, plastic bottles and fast food packaging.
As part of their contract with Doncaster Council, North East Lincolnshire Council – which spends around £1.5 million on street cleansing every year – issues a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice for anyone caught littering in the borough.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:
“Litter makes the place look a mess, it’s harmful to wildlife and the environment, and it costs a fortune to clean up. If you drop litter, we will fine you £100.
“With 979 litter bins in convenient locations around the borough, you are never far from a bin in North East Lincolnshire.
“Street cleansing staff empty our bins in busy areas every day. If a bin is full, find another or take your rubbish home with you.
“Enforcement officers are on patrol and will fine offenders £100.”
A NELC spokesperson said: “Sadly, wildlife are the main victims when it comes to litter. The RSPCA receive around 5,000 calls a year about animals injured by litter. Children can also cut themselves on broken glass or the sharp edges of a drinks can.
“Litter dropped on the street, on the beach or in a park doesn’t stay there. Rainwater and wind carries plastic, cigarette ends and other litter into streams and rivers, and through drains. Drains lead to the sea.
“For us, that’s the Humber Estuary and the North Sea. Cigarette filters are made of thousands of toxic ingredients, including arsenic, lead and nicotine, all of which can pollute seas and rivers.”
