Litter is unsightly, potentially harmful to children, pets and
wildlife, and encourages vermin. Suffolk Coastal spends more
than £600,000 on clearing litter from our streets, parks,
beaches and roadsides each year - money which could be put to much
better use.
Dropping litter (including throwing things
like cigarette ends or food containers out of a car)
could lead to a fine of up to £2,500. Anyone caught committing
these offences by our enforcement team could be issued with a
fixed penalty fine of £80 or face the possibility of
court proceedings where a fine up to the maximum for the relevant
offence may be applied.
The penalties for flytipping are even heavier. Flytipping is
where waste is disposed of incorrectly. It includes situations
where people place their domestic waste out for collection too
early or in the wrong place as well as when things like freezers
are dumped at the roadside. Anyone caught flytipping could
face a fine of up to £50,000 (unlimited if the case goes to the
Crown Court) or up to five years in prison. The Council is
able to use CCTV to catch flytippers.
To report flytipping or dropped litter, call Suffolk Coastal
Services on 01394 444000 or email
scsltd@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
Details like the name and address of culprit if known,
registration number of any vehicle involved, and the time, date and
place of the incident would be helpful. All information supplied
will be treated in strict confidence.
Suffolk Coastal Services will arrange clearance from public land
and attempt to catch the person responsible. They can also
provide a clearance service to private landowners for a cost
based fee.
Suffolk Coastal Services empty hundreds of litter bins in the
district, and parish councils may be able to fund additional ones,
so if you think a litter or dog waste bin is needed in your area,
contact your parish council.
Spring Clean litter pick scheme
If your town or parish council, school, or any other local
community group would like to organise a litter pick to help
improve your local environment, then Suffolk Coastal's Spring Clean
scheme can help.
Suffolk Coastal Services will provide free disposable
rubber gloves, and sacks in which to collect litter, and will
arrange to collect and dispose of the rubbish collected. Follow
this link to find
out more details and how to register.
Though it's called Spring Clean, litter picks can be carried out
at any time of the year.