Two fined for dropping cigarette ends

TWO people were fined for dropping cigarette ends in Llanelli during an all-Wales crackdown on litter.

 

 

The council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the town centre and issued two fixed penalty notices for £75.

Failure to pay could result in prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum fine of up to £2,500.

All 22 Welsh local authorities joined forces to stage a ‘day of action’ organised by environmental campaigners Keep Wales Tidy.

As well as issuing on-the-spot fines, officers also talked to residents about litter and its consequences and handed out portable ashtrays and dog fouling bags to encourage people to behave responsibly.

Carmarthenshire County Council removes on average a staggering 40 tonnes of litter every week at a cost of over £2.1 million per year.

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “Dropping litter is against the law; whether it is discarding rubbish from a vehicle, throwing cigarette ends or spitting out chewing gum and dog faeces left anywhere is a serious health risk.

“Hopefully these fines will act as a warning to others that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. The council is committed to improving the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire and will not hesitate to punish those that flout the law.”

Environmental enforcement officers carry out patrols across the county seven days a week and during all times of the day.

There is also a county-wide education and awareness ‘Bin It’ campaign to encourage people to dispose of their litter more responsibly.