Saturday, May 21, 2016

LITTERING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED & OFFENDERS COULD BE FINED £80, SAYS BRIGG COUNCILLOR

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

More than £1m is spent each year on picking up rubbish, emptying bins and cleaning up the streets across North Lincolnshire - litter picking being a major part of this. 
We are urging people to not drop litter, put their rubbish in the bin and do their bit for the environment.
If you are travelling in a vehicle, take your rubbish home with you or find the nearest bin. Do not throw it out of your vehicle.
In the past few years the problem with littering and fly-tipping in North Lincolnshire has slowly increased and we want to change this. As well as our highways and neighbourhood services team picking up litter, we are working with community groups to keep North Lincolnshire tidy.
People who are caught littering will be given a Fixed Penalty Notice at a cost of £80; this is reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.
Over the past three years 24 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for littering; five of which were given to pedestrians and the rest to drivers for littering from their vehicle.
The recent Clean for the Queen campaign was a huge success in North Lincolnshire, with over 200 people getting involved in the big clean up weekend in March. 
 Some groups involved are continuing to carry out litter picks to tidy up their communities.
A new scheme has been set up with community payback offenders to pick up litter. They recently did a litter pick on A1077 and there are plans to do more litter picks in other areas of North Lincolnshire.
If you would like to do your bit for the community and start your own litter pick, get in touch with us. We can provide equipment to do this and will pick up any rubbish collected. Contact highways and neighbourhood services on 01724 297775 or email neighbourhoodservices@northlincs.gov.uk.
If you witness someone fly-tipping or find any fly-tipping in North Lincolnshire, you can report this online at: www.northlincs.gov.uk/planning-and-environment/environmental-crime/fly-tipping-and-waste-management/fly-tipping/.
Coun Rob Waltham, of Brigg, Deputy Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Each year we spend around £1m on tidying up our streets and picking up litter to make our communities look nice. This is taxpayers’ money that could be spent better elsewhere. Savings could be made if people stopped littering.
“It is unacceptable behaviour to litter. Plenty of bins are provided around North Lincolnshire for people to put their rubbish in. There are no excuses for littering.
“Not only does littering make communities look untidy it has a huge impact on the environment. We should be doing all we can to help the environment we live in.
“We want people to change their habits and think about the effects of what they are doing. Littering is not acceptable and will not be accepted. Our Community Wardens have the power to fine people up to £80 if they catch anyone littering.”