Trafford Council is cracking down on environmental crime by introducing on-the-spot £80 fines for anyone caught dropping litter – including cigarette butts and chewing gum.
From today, officers from environmental enforcement firm 3GS Service have been brought in by the council to carry out street patrols in Altrincham and across the borough.
They will issue on-the-spot £80 fines to people caught dropping litter, while fly-tippers will be fined £200 or prosecuted.
Trafford says it hopes the measures will help it save taxpayers’ money to spend on “other environmental priorities”.
It says the initial 12-month scheme will be self-financing as the costs of enforcement will be met by the income from the fixed penalty notices. Any additional money generated from the fines will be ring-fenced and invested in similar environmental schemes.
The council is also asking residents to report any incidents of waste being dumped by calling 0161 912 2000.
Cllr Stephen Adshead, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change, said: “We are passionate about ensuring our neighbourhoods are clean and attractive places to live in, but we still face problems with more and more rubbish being dumped in alleyways and litter being dropped. This is something we have never tolerated and will take even tougher action to show we are serious about tacking this issue.
“We’re asking everyone for their support, so that together we can make where you live in Trafford a place to be really proud of.”
Officers from 3GS will wear a uniform and carry body cameras while on patrols, and will identify themselves to the public.
