Litter louts beware
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
16/01/2008
More than 100 Fixed Penalty Notices have now been issued to litter louts as part of the council’s zero tolerance blitz on anti-social behaviour.
The council is continuing to push out the message to those people who refuse to lose their filthy habit – if you want to drop litter and cigarette butts in Hammersmith and Fulham, be prepared to pay for it.
StreetScene Enforcement Officers from the council, in partnership with the Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been challenging persistent litter-dropping offenders, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices of £75 for the misdemeanour under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and successfully prosecuting for non-payment.
The council will continue to proactively seek out litter louts and with highly visible proactive ‘beats’ inspecting every street in the borough, at least once every 10 working days and key routes checked daily the chances are that many more people will be fined.
Cllr Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Crime and Antisocial behaviour, said: “It costs the council millions of pounds every year to clean litter up from our streets and we believe that those who drop it there in the first place should pay their fair share. Dropping litter in Hammersmith & Fulham will simply not be tolerated,"
Of particular concern are smokers who throw their cigarette butts onto the pavement, especially taking into account that 122 tonnes of cigarette litter is dropped on pavements in the UK daily.
There is even less excuse for dropping cigarette butts onto the pavements now that gum and butt bins have been installed throughout key locations in the borough. In August 2006 80 bins were rolled out around Fulham Broadway underground station and Chelsea football ground, and in March 2007, 65 on the lamp columns in Shepherd’s Bush Green town centre and 45 on King Street, Hammersmith.
The bins provide a highly visible message to smokers where to put out their cigarettes, ensure that cigarette waste is located in an easily accessible position for cleaning crews and minimise waste strewn across the pavements.
Cllr Smith added: “Dropping litter and cigarette butts is a disgusting habit and we will continue to hit those who feel the need to do it where it hurts – in the pocket. Our streets are not a giant dumping ground and the sooner people realise that the better.”
