The Scottish government is more than doubling fines for fly tipping to £500 as part of a range of new measures to prevent litter and fly tipping.
The Scottish government says the new six-year National Litter and Fly tipping Strategy sets out how national and local government, businesses, third sector, communities and individuals can collaborate to drive behaviour change, improve infrastructure, strengthen enforcement and support Scotland’s circular economy.
Alongside the increase in fines for fly tipping, key measures include the introduction of new powers to impose a fine on the registered keeper of a vehicle from which a littering offence occurred.
The strategy also includes a plan to launch a new national online litter hub to provide information and support to relevant local organisations on tackling litter and littering behaviour. As part of the new plan, the Scottish government want to provide dedicated support for private landowners, including funding for trials, to help deter and deal with fly tipping affecting their land.
Finally, the strategy sets out there will be increased action to detect and disrupt fly tippers, especially unregistered waste carriers advertising online, such as proactive engagement with online platforms and dedicated SEPA activity to tackle rogue operators.
This government makes no apologies for taking bold action on tackling litter and fly tipping.
The strategy was developed in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Scottish Environment Protection Agency following engagement with other stakeholders, including local authorities and landowners, and has been informed by responses to consultations.
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, commented: “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.”