Smokers face fines if they drop cigarette ends
Smokers are being warned that dropping butts on the street could land them with a hefty fine as a pilot scheme to crack down on littering gets underway in Tonbridge and Malling.
Specialist teams will start work next week patrolling towns and villages, keeping an eye out for people discarding rubbish on the street rather than using one of the 1,500 public bins across the borough. Those caught dropping litter, including cigarette stubs, could face a fixed penalty of up to £150.
The penalties that can be imposed are:
- Littering: £150 reducing to £100 if paid within 10 days
- Dog fouling: £80 reducing to £50 if paid within 10 days
- Fly tipping: £400
- Other waste offences: £300
The enforcement teams will also undertake a range of initiatives to discourage littering, including handing out portable ashtrays and dog poop bags. Support for school education projects and sponsored litter picks will also be provided.
Cllr Piers Montague, lead cabinet member for waste and technical services, said: ‘Some people may think it’s unfair to get a fine for dropping a cigarette end but it’s contributing to our litter problem and to the costs of cleaning it up that we all pay for through our council tax. Cigarette ends also contain a range of toxins and are harmful to wildlife.
‘So whether it’s cigarette butts, food wrappers or fly tipping, those who choose not to dispose of their rubbish responsibly shouldn’t be surprised to get a fixed penalty.
‘By taking a tough line on litter while also providing educational initiatives, I believe this pilot scheme has great potential to reduce the amount of waste on our streets and keep our borough looking its best.’