Do fines lighten the litter load?
Wellington City litterers are in for more than seal slap or bird poop on their hats, if the Council pass a new law allowing the worst offenders to be fined up to $400. The Wellington City Council (WCC) are catching up with Hutt City Council (HCC) laws, which already has a scale of fines starting at $100 for offences such as dropping cigarette butts and food containers on the street. HCC environmental investigation officer Alan Pope says discarded cigarette butts are the most littered item in New Zealand, and the HCC are encouraging people to have reusable ?pocket size? ash-trays to avoid $100 fines. Mr Pope is the lone enforcement officer for the Hutt and over a 12 month period investigated 309?dumping /littering incidents, of which 56 warnings were given?and 13 infringement notices issued.? ?We are finding a lot of illegal dumping at recycling station in Wakefield Street, Alicetown. ?People are putting household rubbish in with the recyclables. It?s a misuse of the system, and we are trying to crack down on this behaviour,? says Mr Pope. The HCC passed their litter laws in 2007, raising the maximum fine to $400 and introducing a three tier charging system. The HCC work in conjunction with police to keep litter levels down, but because it?s difficult to catch people in the act few top-end fines are given out. ?It?s difficult to say how effective the fines are because in many cases it?s hard to prove beyond a doubt the person was littering. ?The fine is certainly a deterrent to those who receive them, and we hand out a lot of warnings to people,? he says. Each year the HCC participate in Clean Up New Zealand Week, which is successful in removing litter from public places such as the Petone Esplanade. ?People need to take responsibility for their litter, there is a problem with plastic bottles washing down the waterways and ending up on the beach. ?We need to raise awareness of the plastic problem, especially people dumping plastic bags. ?It?s primarily laziness, and that?s not good enough in New Zealand,? says Mr Pope. The WCC strategy and policy committee are deciding on the rule changes, and if passed they will come into effect on August 1.
