People in Hull are once more being urged to dispose of their litter responsibly.
The call comes after 15 people were convicted for littering offences throughout the city, heard in Hull Magistrates’ Court between April and May 2021, after failing to pay fixed penalty notices.
The fines and costs totalled £5,268, an average of more than £351 per person, and the individuals received a criminal record.
Keep Britain Tidy reports that more than two million pieces of litter are dropped in the UK every day, with an estimated street cleaning cost of more than £1 billion a year.
The standard practice to dispose of litter is to use commercial bins or litter bins provided by the council, or to take waste home to be disposed of responsibly.
Under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is an offence to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and leave litter. Litter, as a physical product, is not defined by law and is open to a wide interpretation. The most common examples include cigarette-related paraphernalia, chewing gum, and food and drinks packaging.
Offences can result in a £100 fixed penalty, reduced to £80 if paid within the early payment period, or prosecution and a maximum fine of £2,500.
Councillor Rosie Nicola, Portfolio Holder for Waste Management, said: “Littering, of any kind, is never acceptable and will not be tolerated in Hull.
“As well as being very damaging to the environment, it is anti-social and has a financial cost to clear up.
“If not disposed of responsibly, it can take long periods of time to degrade, which can cause harm to wildlife, pollute the environment and make areas look uncared for.
“The people of Hull deserve a clean city and we want our streets to look good. It’s important that those who do not dispose of their litter properly are fined, in an effort to deter people from committing or repeating the same offence.”
Fixed penalties for the above littering offences were issued by the council’s enforcement contractor, LA Support Limited. These offences took place on:
- Jameson Street
- Chapel Street
- South Street
- Terry Street
- Alfred Gelder Street
- Boulevard
- Beverley Road
- Newland Avenue
- Princes Avenue
- Carr Lane
- Cottingham Road
- Grafton Street
- Cadogan Street
- Dock Street
There are other prosecutions pending, which will be publicised once they have been before Hull Magistrates’ Court.
Anyone issued with a fixed penalty notice for littering should pay it to avoid a fine and criminal record. To pay a fixed penalty notice, contact LA Support Limited by calling 0800 781 6229 or online at https://fpnpayment.com/Hull. For more details, visit Hull City Council’s littering page.
