Another community issue high on the agenda is littering. The Scottish Government has recently increased the Fixed Penalty Notice from £50 to £80.  The Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes it offence for anyone to throw down, drop or otherwise dispose of litter. Failure to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice within 14 days and conviction in court, can lead to a fine of up to £2,500.

By far the majority of littering offences dealt with by the team by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice are issued to smokers who do not dispose of their cigarette ends appropriately. Many don’t realise it is an offence, but cigarette ends are probably one of the most difficult pieces of litter to remove from our streets by cleansing operatives.

The team handed out free stubbies, a fireproof ashtray, to smokers to encourage the correct disposal of their cigarettes butts.

Senior Community Safety Officer (West), Diane McColm, said; “My team will continue to broadcast the message that dog fouling and littering will not be tolerated in the Stewartry. The team will continue this through numerous educational initiatives and the rigorous enforcement of the environmental legislation that the communities demand.”