Littering

Zero tolerance on littering in the Royal Borough

From 1 December 2008 the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is introducing a policy of zero tolerance on littering. This means anyone caught littering will receive a £75 fixed penalty notice which must be paid within 14 days - however this will be reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.

Newly-appointed litter wardens will patrol the busiest streets throughout the Royal Borough from mid-November onwards. At first they will approach litterers and let them know about the new policy – but from 1 December they will be issuing the £75 fixed penalty notices.

Litter laws

It is a criminal offence to deposit litter of any description on the street or anywhere in the open air. Litter includes small items such as cigarette ends (Sec 87 Environmental Protection Act 1990). The maximum penalty for depositing litter is a fine of £2,500 upon conviction. A fixed penalty notice offers a person the opportunity to discharge any liability for that offence by payment of a fixed penalty. Non-payment of a litter fixed penalty notice may lead to the person being taken to court for the original offence of depositing litter.

No ifs, no butts

Many residents will have noticed the increase in smoking-related litter on our streets since the smoking ban in public places was introduced last year. Cigarette litter now accounts for 75% of litter dropped on the street and is difficult to clean up, particularly when cigarette butts get caught in the gaps in the pavement.

Smokers need to put their stubbed-out cigarette ends in a suitable container such as a bin or a personal anti-litter pouch. Anyone caught throwing a cigarette butt on the ground will receive a £75 fixed penalty notice.

Businesses have an important part to play

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows local authorities to serve Street Litter Control Notices on owners of certain businesses where there are regular accumulations of litter outside the premises, including cigarette litter. A Street Litter Control Notice places a legal duty on these businesses to keep the street outside their premises clean and may be served where businesses fail to clean up on a voluntary basis.

The council has installed a number of cigarette disposal units in the town centres but businesses can assist greatly by installing their own cigarette disposal units, encouraging staff to dispose of their litter in a responsible way and warning them of the possible consequences if they drop it on the street.

Businesses can receive further information and advice from Streetcare Services on 01628 683804 or email streetcare@rbwm.gov.uk

Let’s work together to make our town centres cleaner places to work, live and visit.