The council’s Cabinet (4 March) has announced significant steps to help address the issue of environmental offences in the town, with littering fines tripling and fly tipping fines doubling...
To discourage illegal activities like littering, fly tipping, and neglecting duty of care regarding waste disposal, the council has decided to raise the upper limit of fixed penalty notices (FPNs). The change in approach is due to an adjustment in the law which allows Watford to set fines and charges higher than previously allowed.
Effective from 1 April 2024, the new maximum fine levels for FPNs will be as follows:
- Tripling of littering fines: fine has risen from £75 to £250, meaning an increase of £175
- Duty of care (residential): fine has risen from £300 to £600, meaning an increase of £300
- Doubling fine for fly tipping offences: fine has risen from £300 to £600, meaning an increase of £300
This change reflects the council's commitment in maintaining a clean and sustainable environment for all residents, with the local authority consistently demonstrating its dedication to tackling environmental offenses.
In the year 2022/23, the council issued the highest number of FPNs for fly tipping in Hertfordshire, while ranking as the second-best performing authority in terms of the ratio of FPNs issued to reported incidents. As a result, Watford maintains one of the lower rates of fly tipping in the county.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Fly tipping is an unacceptable blight on our community, ruining our environment and negatively impacting the attraction of our town. The council’s proactive approach shows our commitment to combatting this scourge, and ensuring Watford remains a clean and inviting place for all.”
Councillor Kennedy Rodrigues, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, said: “The council is sending a clear message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated in our community. We are taking decisive action to rid our streets of this menace and empowering residents to engage in meaningful conversations about the detrimental effects of littering and fly tipping.
“By raising awareness, we are reinforcing the message that environmental crime is unacceptable and urging individuals to dispose of their waste responsibly. There really is no excuse, the message is clear, make sure all litter goes in a bin – including cigarette ends, and make sure you only use a licenced waste contractor or visit a household recycling centre if you have additional waste. If the cost of a waste disposal service seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
If you are unsure about how to dispose of waste, please check out our website at watford.gov.uk/flytipping. Advice on getting rid of bulky waste in Watford is available from the council’s environmental services partner, Veolia, at enquiries.watford@veolia.co.uk
