An Islington councillor has suggested education, not tougher fines, would stem Islington’s litter problem, reacting to a report by a committee of MPs.
Read More: 14 people say how they’d clean up Islington’s litter problem
Shame on the vile fly-tippers of Islington
The report recommended higher penalties to help the financial cost of clean-up operations across the country, but Cllr Janet Burgess said: “we can educate people to be more responsible.”
Speaking today at a community clean-up event at the Girdlestone Estate in Archway, she said: “I think a lot of it is education. About ten years ago, people didn’t pick up after their dogs and people who didn’t have dogs resented this… But now it’s really anti-social not to pick up after your dog.”
The Communities and Local Government Committee said levels of litter in England have hardly improved in the past 12 years, estimating that litter costs the taxpayer between a staggering £717m and £850m a year to clean up.
Islington Council issued 5,914 fixed penalty litter enforcement fines from January 2013 to November 2014, raising £229,500.
There were 2,634 fly-tipping incidents recorded in the borough over the last two years, according to government figures.
The deputy leader of the council said it would be “difficult” to increase litter fines too much, adding: “I think it’s more important that you actually collect the fines in the first place.
“If you make the fines cripplingly expensive, then they’re going to get very angry and probably not pay.”
The Archway clean-up operation forms part of a month of borough-wide events, including a police advice stall, free dog chipping and a bicycle surgery.
Sarah Hitchcock, who helped run the project, said: “I think it’s a really good way of raising awareness of some of the issues, creating a bit of community spirit and showing a bit of pride in the local area.”
The local McDonald’s on Highgate Hill supplied staff and cleaning equipment. Valentina De Certo, a McDonald’s worker, said: “It’s important for me, for you, for all people, for my child in the future. Every single person knows you don’t put the rubbish on the floor because it’s not your house – why would you put it on the floor?”
Veronika Ivanka said she thinks the clean-up is important for the neighbourhood. Speaking about the impact of the McDonald’s branch on the area, she added: “I think it’s a good thing that we come and we care and basically clean up after ourselves.”
Fines vs. Education: Where do you stand?
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