Man fined for dropping cigarette end on pavement

A MAN has been fined £75 for dropping a cigarette end on a pavement in Burry Port.

Council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the Station Road area when they saw the man walking along smoking a cigarette and then discard it onto the pavement.

If he fails to pay the fixed penalty notice, he could be prosecuted in court where the maximum fine is £2,500.

Figures show that 83% of litter found on Carmarthenshire streets is smoking-related and the council has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Dropping litter is against the law, whether it is discarding rubbish from a vehicle, throwing cigarette ends or spitting out chewing gum.

“Enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county and anyone caught dropping any type of litter will be fined.

“Cigarette ends are particularly difficult and expensive to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks in the pavement which means they cannot be removed by normal cleaning methods.

“Hopefully this fine will help to raise awareness of the issue and make people think twice before dropping litter in the future.”