Fines in Fife will more than double to £500 from today

The new powers are being brought in under the Scottish Government’s six-year National Litter and Flytipping Strategy. This lays out how national and local government, business, the third sector, communities and individuals can work together to drive behaviour change and strengthen enforcement. 

Other key measures proposed as part of the Strategy include the introduction of new powers to impose a fine on the registered keeper of a vehicle from which a littering offence is committed. There will also be a new national online litter hub to provide information, advice and support to community groups and local organisations on tackling litter.

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Councillor Jan Wincott, Fife Council’s spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change, said: “There are no excuses for littering and flytipping, which are a blight on our streets, communities and countryside, with the cost of cleaning up often borne by individuals and the public sector.

“Every year, millions of items are dropped as litter and tonnes of material is flytipped in Scotland, with at least £60 million of public money spent annually to clean it up - money that could be better spent on other services. On top of this, litter and flytipping prevention can ‘close the loop’ in a circular economy."

You can report illegal dumping in Fife online, by phone on 03451550022, or by emailing safercommunities.team@fife.gov.uk .

Nigel Kerr, Head of Protective Services, Fife Council, added: “We know that most people want to take pride in their local area and that to be successful the council needs the support of local people, who are our eyes and ears in the community.

“This is why we’re asking Fifers to help stop flytipping by reporting it, and urging local people to check that waste carriers disposing of waste on their behalf have a SEPA licence.

“We all have a duty to know where our waste is going.”