A WARNING has been issued in North Ayrshire after the rise of the penalty for fly-tipping.
Illegal rubbish dumpers who blight streets, pavements, public spaces countryside and beauty spots face the new £500 penalty - an increase from £200 - which was introduced on January 1 by the Scottish Government.
This new penalty applies to anyone in North Ayrshire who is caught acting irresponsibly by not disposing of waste in the correct manner.
The majority of local authorities in Scotland offer no formal grounds of appeal against a Fixed Penalty Notice for fly-tipping – so people either have to pay the fine or take their case to court.
However, North Ayrshire Council has implemented its own appeals procedure as a sign of good practice.
The council’s Streetscene officers can now issue a notice of £500 to a person they believe has committed an offence of fly-tipping under Section 33a/34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Failure to pay a Fixed Penalty can result in action by Sheriff Officers or the Procurator Fiscal. If you are prosecuted, you may face a jail term and a fine of up to £40,000 and have a criminal record.
Vehicles used to carry out the crime may be considered for seizure.
Last year, the council issued 367 FPNs for littering offences - 22 for dog fouling, 250 for fly-tipping and 95 for littering.
Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “The Scottish Government set this new level of Fixed Penalty Notice and local authorities must enforce it.
“I sincerely hope it acts as a deterrent to anyone who is tempted to dispose of rubbish in an irresponsible manner.
“Fly-tipping isn’t just about businesses dumping commercial waste on a country road to avoid paying disposal costs – doing things like leaving additional bags of household waste next to your bins also constitutes fly-tipping.
“I would encourage everyone to be considerate, and play their part in keeping North Ayrshire tidy by putting waste where it belongs.”
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