Litter and Litter bins
We are responsible for the provision, installation, maintenance and emptying of litter bins in Melton Mowbray Town Centre and the Country Park.
The bins are emptied every day in the town centre and twice a week outside the majority of the shops and Post Offices within Melton Mowbray.
In residential areas in Melton Mowbray, the bins should be emptied once a week.
The bins in the villages are provided by the relevant local Parish Council. Litter bins in the villages should be emptied once a week on refuse collection day.
Bins in the Country Park are emptied twice a week during the school term time, and three times a week during the school holidays.
Report a full bin
If you see a litter bin which needs emptying or which has been vandalised, please report it to us.
On receiving this information will first check the emptying schedule for the area where the bin is located. If the bin is due to be emptied the next day no further action will be taken. Should the due date not be the next day the contractor concerned will be requested to empty the bin or we will inspect the bin and should it be considered necessary, arrangements will be made to have the bin repaired or cleaned.
Littering
Littering leaves our borough looking unclean, but it causes huge damage to our environment and harms the animals living there. It can also pollute and contaminate streams, rivers, and water courses.
Littering and the Law
Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 states that if a person drops, throws, deposits or leaves anything to cause defacement in a public place, they could be committing a littering offence.
The legislation is complex and the easiest way to understand it is to refer to the booklet 'Litter and the Law - a guide for the public'. Copies of this booklet are available from the Keep Britain Tidy website.
What is classed as litter
Cigarette butts, chewing gum, convenience food and drink packaging (bags, cups, cartons & serving items), soft drinks bottles and cans, tissues, receipts and fast-food related items are top of the most littered items.
However almost anything that is either dropped, thrown, deposited or left to cause defacement in a public place, could be classed as a littering.
Littering from a vehicle
Dropping litter (littering) from any vehicle, such as a car, van, lorry or scooter, is an offence. If you want to report a littering from a vehicle offence, we will need the following information:
- Vehicle details (make, model, colour, registration number).
- The item(s) which were dropped or thrown.
- Date, time and location the littering took place.
- Your contact details.
- Be willing to make and sign a witness statement (without this we will not be able to progress with the complaint)
Penalties for littering
If you or anyone over the age of 10 is caught littering, you could be issued a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100. This is reduced to £50 for early repayment. If convicted, you could face a fine of up to £2,500. You can find more information about this on the Less Waste website.