Council crackdown on litter louts

Blaby District Council is backing a new countywide campaign to stamp out littering.

The 'It’s All Littering' initiative is supported by Leicestershire Waste Partnership, made up of the seven District Councils in the County as well as Leicester City Council.

The campaign focuses on education with the message that whether it’s a cigarette butt or a banana skin – it's all unwanted litter and it could damage the environment.

People are being reminded to use litter bins when out and about or take their rubbish home. The key message is - don’t be a litter lout and so keep Blaby District and the County tidy.

Councillor Les Phillimore, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, Community and Environmental Services, said: "Littering is an issue for all of our communities so we’re joining forces to raise awareness of the many things that are littered across the County. We issue fines to people caught deliberately dropping litter and often people say they didn’t realise their cigarette butt or banana skin is litter.

"Our message to everyone is whether it’s a dropped cigarette butt, an apple core thrown from your window or a plastic bottle left next to a bin, it’s all littering. People should also remember the cost clearing up rubbish whether it’s fly-tipping or littering ultimately falls back on residents as the taxpayer."

If caught, litter louts can face a £150 fixed penalty notice, which can lead to a fine of £2,500.

Some 30 million tonnes of litter are collected from Britain’s streets each year – enough to fill four Wembley stadiums.

While Councils work to catch offenders and fine them, the County is also supported by networks of litter picking volunteers. In Blaby District this includes South Leicestershire Litter Wombles.

Geoff Walker from Braunstone is an administrator for the Wombles and also chairman of WILE – Wombles in Litter Education. This is a community interest charity where members visit schools to raise awareness of litter and the damage it does.

He said: "Blaby District and Leicestershire are in the heart of the Shires, a county with stunning views everywhere. Leicestershire Litter Wombles cannot believe people who live in and pass through this beautiful county have such disdain for it that they throw their litter into the environment, even when close to a bin.

"Literally anything in your home has been picked up by Wombles when finished with by the owners. Bottles, cans, phones, plastic, used nappies and so on. More than 137,000 litter bags plus 1,000’s of tonnes of large items have been collected by Wombles. This is enough to cover the pitch at the King Power stadium to a depth of about 20 to 30 feet deep. All collected by volunteers giving up their time freely."

More information about the campaign can be found on the Leicestershire Waste Partnership website, including details of how littered items impact the environment.

Visit Littering-Less Waste and follow the campaign on social media using the hashtag #ItsAllLittering

Leicestershire Waste Partnership involves Blaby District Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Harborough District Council, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Melton Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council. Leicester City Council is also supporting the project.

Councillor Les Phillimore
Portfolio Holder for Housing, Community and Environmental Services