Borough of Telford & Wrekin

Litter and the Law

We spend £2.3 million each year on picking up litter from borough neighbourhoods. But now we are clamping down on litter louts and if you drop rubbish on our streets you could find yourself with a fine of up to £75!
Litter picking in Telford


Following the introduction of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Telford & Wrekin Council can prosecute litter offenders or alternatively serve an on the spot fine of up to £75. Police Community Support Officers and Council Enforcement Officers are out on the streets armed with the Fixed Penalty Notices, so don't litter our streets or countryside!

Drop It & Cop It!

The council runs a campaign aimed at stopping people from dropping litter - this is called Drop It and Cop It. As part of this campaign, fines of up to £75 will be issued to litter louts and nonpayment of fines could lead to further fines of up to £2,500 if you find yourself being prosecuted in court.

The council currently provides more than 1,700 litter bins across the borough. So don't risk a fine - either bin your litter or take it home.

To help eliminate the problem of the general public paying for this antisocial behaviour, the Drop It and Cop It campaign also uses the borough's Community Support Officers to help tackle the problem.

Officers visit schools to educate children and young people about the problems of littering within their community.

Neighbourhood Services Team Leader Danny Chetwood said: "Telford & Wrekin has some beautiful areas and we are continuing to keep the borough looking clean and attractive. But it comes at a cost of millions of pounds each year.

"Borough residents must take responsibility for their own litter, just put it in the nearest litter bin or take it home - it's not much to ask. The Drop It and Cop It campaign is not about enforcing fines on people, but about making people feel proud of where they live."

"Dropping litter is against the law and makes neighbourhoods look uncared for. If the council, the police or the public witness people dropping litter we will take action against them. It's your environment, why let them get away with it."

Frequently Asked Questions about Litter and the Law.

A Community Safety Officer with litter in Telford


On November 3rd 2006, Telford & Wrekin took a woman to court for throwing a cigarette out of her car window. The case came to Telford Magistrates Court because the woman refused to pay the £50 Fixed Penalty Notice. She was fined £100 and ordered to pay an additional £300 costs.

Information on how to pay a fine.



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Please note - Some documents published before 1st December 2006 may contain incorrect contact numbers.
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For up to date contact numbers please refer to the Guide to Council Services.