East Kilbride's MSP has backed new government measures which will see fly-tipping fines more than doubled to prevent littering and support Scotland’s circular and zero waste economy.
The new measures, which will hit offenders in the pocket to the tune of £500, have been brought in under the Scottish Government's six-year National Litter and Fly-tipping Strategy.
It sets out how national and local government, business, third sector, communities and individuals can work together to drive behaviour change, improve infrastructure and strengthen enforcement.
This comes after Lanarkshire Live revealed nearly £5000 worth of fines were issued by Lanarkshire's two councils in a five-week period.
Figures revealed North Lanarkshire Council - which came fourth top out of 13 - issued 15 FPNs totalling £3000. Of these £2000 came from fines issued between 2019-2020, and £1000 from fines that were issued in the period of 2020/2021.
And South Lanarkshire - which came sixth top out of the 13 who responded in Scotland - issued six FPNs, amounting to £1200.
Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, said: “The Scottish Government is working hard to support Scotland's transition to a zero waste and circular economy by tidying up Scotland’s streets and neighbourhoods. These strict new measures will help to keep communities in East Kilbride clean and safe.
“East Kilbride is a wonderful place to live, with a community to take pride in, but our neighbourhoods are so often impacted by reckless fly-tipping and littering, which impacts on everyone who lives here.
“More than doubling the fines for fly-tipping to £500 will surely help incentivise litter bugs to think hard before they dump rubbish onto our streets.”
The strategy has been developed in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Scottish Environment Protection Agency following engagement with other key partners and stakeholders, including local authorities and landowners, and has been informed by responses to consultations.
Other key measures include the introduction of new powers to impose a fine on the registered keeper of a vehicle from which a littering offence is committed and a new national online litter hub to provide information, advice and support to community groups and other relevant local organisations on tackling litter and littering behaviour.
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, said: “Scotland is a beautiful country and we all have a responsibility to keep it that way. This Government makes no apologies for taking bold action on tackling litter and fly-tipping, which is a blight on our streets, communities and countryside, as well as threatening our natural environment and wildlife.
“This strategy will drive further change in behaviours and the delivery of services. Enforcement is a key theme, and the strategy sets out robust commitments, including raising fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping to £500 and considering increasing fines further if required.
“It is part of a wider package of measures to tackle Scotland’s throwaway culture, including becoming the first nation in the UK to ban some of the most problematic single-use plastics, a commitment to introduce a charge on single-use cups, the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme, and reform of extended producer responsibility for packaging.”
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