Residents and visitors who blight the district’s environment will face tougher consequences from next week.
Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of up to £1,000 for fly-tipping and £200 for littering can be issued across Folkestone & Hythe, as set out in environmental legislation.
Those who fail to meet their duty of care when paying someone to dispose of their waste also face increased sanctions.
It is all designed to deter people from damaging public spaces – and ensure residents and visitors who do offend pay the price.
As of Tuesday 1 April, the following FPNs can be issued by Folkestone & Hythe District Council:
Fly-tipping
- Major incident: £1,000, reduced to £500 if paid within 10 days
- Minor incident: £500, reduced to £300 if paid within 10 days
Littering
- Major incident: £200, reduced to £150 if paid within 10 days
- Minor incident: £150, reduced to £100 if paid within 10 days
Duty of care
- Commercial: £500, reduced to £300 if paid within 10 days
- Domestic: £200, reduced to £150 if paid within 10 days
A Folkestone & Hythe District Council spokesperson said: “Put simply, there is no excuse for dumping rubbish. These increased FPNs should make people think twice about being damaging our environment and being inconsiderate to fellow residents.
“Those involved in incidents causing significant harm will face tougher consequences. Several factors will be considered when determining the level of the incident. These include size, content, impact, the health and safety risk and location.
“This is not a revenue-raising exercise. Early payment options are being introduced for the first time, and money collected can only be used for specific purposes – such as enforcement against fly-tipping, collection and disposal of discarded waste, and land restoration.”
Residents who witness fly-tipping, or see evidence of it (including dash cam, video doorbell or in person), are encouraged to report it to Folkestone & Hythe District Council for investigation and clearance.
Those who are unsure of their duty of care responsibilities can email environmental.services@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk or call 01303 853660 for more information.