Bath & North East Somerset Council

Enforcement action for Litter / Rubbish offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the subsequent Clean Neighbourhoods Act

Bath & North East Somerset has introduced a more robust approach against litter droppers. Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) will be issued to people who drop litter in a public place. This also applies to traders or residents who place trade waste or domestic refuse out on the highway (roads and pavements) at any time other than that allotted.

Collection Times

Domestic Waste and Recycling

Residents should only place waste and recycling out after 8pm the evening before their scheduled collection day. To find out your allocated collection days please contact Council Connect on 01225 394041.  

A fine of £50 can be issued and failure to pay may lead to summary conviction and a fine not exceeding £2,500.  Any proceeds from fines must be expended in a related area and will therefore be used to further reduce this type of offence.

The issuing of FPNs will be carried out only by the Cleansing Enforcement Team aor other authorised officer at their discretion and using a common sense approach. Litter droppers will not receive warnings – an on the spot fine will be issued.

The immediate issuing of FPNs will ensure officer time is used effectively and designed to act as a deterrent to other potential offenders and those abusing the current system.

If your waste is not collected within the timescale of laid out above, under duty of care it is your responsibility to remove it from the highway. In the case of business waste, your contractor must be made aware of these arrangements to tailor its collections accordingly. If they are unable to comply, you must make alternative arrangements. Please refer to the list of trade waste collection contractors under the related documents on this page who already operate within Bath and North East Somerset.

As part of an overall litter reduction strategy which is being developed, immediate enforcement action will also be taken on fly-tipping and similar offences such as graffiti and abandoned vehicles, with every case to be investigated with a view to prosecuting offenders where possible.  This activity forms part of a joint working arrangement developed with the Environment Agency to tackle the number of fly-tipping incidents throughout the district.