MID Devon District Council is taking steps to increase its presence in tackling littering and fly-tipping which can be a huge problem, causing harm to the environment and wildlife, and leaving Councils carrying the cost of clearing up.

Anyone caught littering can be issued with an £80 fixed penalty and regulations which came into force last year now enable Enforcement Officers to issue fixed penalty notices to fly-tippers.

To combat the impact of littering and fly-tipping, MDDC will be introducing a “Litter Busters” team to deal with fly-tipping reports, increase litter picking along high speed roads, including the North Devon Link Road, and help keep the district tidy.

Andrew Pritchard, Director of Operations, said: “This shows Mid Devon District Council takes the issue of littering and fly-tipping seriously.

“The use of fixed penalty notices is an important deterrent but unfortunately it still happens, so introducing ‘Litter Busters’’ will make a noticeable and positive difference to the amount of litter and fly-tipped material seen in the district.”