Revealed: London borough crowned littering capital of Britain, with 50,000 fines for dropping rubbish in just three years

"An east London borough has been crowned the littering capital of Britain, according to a damning new study. Newham boasts more litter bugs than anywhere in the country, with residents receiving nearly 50,000 fines for dumping rubbish in the last three years. This is equivalent to 13,319 fixed penalty notices (FPN) per 100,000 people, analysis by property agent Sell House Fast found."

"The punishment for dropping litter in Newham, including cigarette butts and chewing gum, involves a 150 fine, although serious or unpaid offences can result in prosecution. However, figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that Newham's high littering rate could be due to its population density of around 25,000 people per square mile, the eighth-highest in England. This, Sell House Fast argues, creates a higher volume of waste, which can be more difficult for the council to effectively manage."

Newham received nearly 50,000 littering fines over three years, equivalent to 13,319 fixed-penalty notices per 100,000 people, the highest in Britain. Greenwich (7,042 per 100,000) and Milton Keynes (6,161) followed, while Manchester received about 35,000 penalties. The figures exclude fly-tipping. Newham contains Westfield Stratford City, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and London City Airport. Dropping litter, including cigarette butts and chewing gum, carries a 150 fine, with serious or unpaid offences potentially resulting in prosecution. Office for National Statistics data indicates population density of around 25,000 people per square mile increases waste volume and complicates council management. Councillor John Whitworth described a zero-tolerance approach and launched the Let's Love Newham campaign with reporting via an app or website. In 2022 the council promised to spend 40 million over four years.

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