Punitive fines for public waste offences have increased in Scotland today (1 April), as the Scottish Government attempts to curb the amount of litter on the streets.

From today, anyone found littering in Scotland will be issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice (FPN), while those caught flytipping will be issued with a £200 FPN.

Previously, FPNs came in at £50 for littering and flytipping, but the increase comes following a public consultation (which found that more than half of respondents supported tougher penalties for anyone who doesn’t bin their waste).

Failure to pay an FPN for littering could result in prosecution and the risk of a £2,500 fine, while with those failing to pay a flytipping FPN will be liable to prosecution and a fine of up to £40,000.

It is hoped the higher fines will deter people from illegally disposing of their waste (either through littering or flytipping), which reportedly costs Scottish taxpayers £53 million a year, impacts on the environment, and wastes valuable resources.

Indeed, the Scottish Government estimates that littered items such as plastic bottles and aluminium cans would be worth £1.2 million a year if recycled.

Commenting on the changes, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland’s natural environment is one of our greatest assets and we must do everything we can to keep it clean and litter-free. It is easy to do the right thing and put your litter in the bin – there really is no excuse for littering.

“Tackling litter and flytipping costs us a staggering £78 million every year. It’s impacting our economy, looks terrible and in some cases is affecting public health – none of us wants to see a litter-strewn environment; be it rural or urban. It’s up to all of us to take responsibility for this problem, and I’d encourage everyone in Scotland to take their litter home, recycle it or find a litter bin.”

The higher financial penalties have come into force ahead of the Scottish Government’s National Litter Strategy – the first since devolution, which will be published later this year alongside the Scottish Marine Litter Strategy.

Councillor Stephen Hagan, Development, Economy and Sustainability Spokesperson at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), added: “Litter and its effects have significant costs to both communities and councils. Local authorities are committed to working with their communities and partners to reduce the negative impacts of litter and flytipping, and fixed penalty notices are one of a number of ways in which behaviour change can be encouraged.

“The increase from a £50 to £80 penalty for littering had strong support through the National Litter Strategy consultation, and councils will seek only to use this increased financial penalty when other avenues of education and prevention have failed to stop those individuals who not only flout the law but also the efforts of the wider community to keep Scotland clean, tidy and litter-free.”

Learn more about the ‘Towards a Litter Free Scotland’ and the ‘Marine Litter Strategy’, or read the analysis of the consultation responses.