As part of the war on waste, 15 people have been prosecuted and fined a total of £8,988 for littering and fly-tipping.
The offenders appeared at Luton Magistrates between October 2023 and March 2024 and were found guilty of offences relating to fly-tipping, littering and breach of householder duty of care under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Nine of the individuals were also prosecuted for breaching the Public Spaces Protection Order, further supporting our drive to reduce anti-social behaviour within the town centre. Seven individuals also failed to appear and, as a result, a warrant for arrest has been issued by the courts. The council is keen to hear from anyone that can help locate them.
Since last year, the uniformed waste investigations support & enforcement (WISE) team has been working with council teams around the town. Anyone caught dropping litter is issued with an on the spot fine, which has been increased to £500.
The council also continues to prosecute those caught fly-tipping with £1,000 fines, and if people don’t check their waste carrier is licensed and their rubbish is dumped, they may face a household duty of care offence and a £600 fine. If people fail to pay, they may be prosecuted and fined significantly more by the court, as well as receive a criminal record.
Gerard McCleave, Corporate Director for Inclusive Economy, said: “These successful prosecutions demonstrate that we take environmental protection seriously and sends a clear message to anyone who might be thinking of fly-tipping or failing to follow correct waste disposal procedures: you will be held accountable for your actions, regardless of the type of waste.
“We have had enough of irresponsible people ruining our town and we know residents have had enough too. We are thankful to residents who report offences to the council so that we can take appropriate action.”
There are simple steps that can be taken to reduce waste in the town. People can use one of the 1,500 litter bins provided or take their rubbish home. When renovating, they should check they are using a licensed waste carrier. The council has two tidy tips and offers a bulky waste collection which is free for those receiving benefits. They can help reduce waste by reusing or recycling items wherever possible.
People can support the war on waste by reporting fly-tipped waste, incidents of fly-tipping in the act, evidence of fly-tippers, and participating in or organising litter picks. They could also suggest ways the council and community could tackle excess waste and rubbish. The council is always looking to recruit enthusiastic and dedicated staff for roles in these areas too.
The council posts cases of fly-tipping on its wall of shame in an effort to track down the offenders. Residents are encouraged to help identify fly-tipping offenders and those wanted on warrant are included on this list.