Vehicle Littering Fines Surge by Almost 500% Since 2020
Littering Penalties Surge Since 2020
Fines issued to drivers for throwing rubbish from vehicles have risen dramatically in recent years, with new research showing a near 500% increase since 2020. According to figures obtained by online used car retailer Cinch through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, penalties climbed from just 445 fines in 2020 to more than 2,600 in 2024, and 2025 already appears set to surpass that figure.
Local authorities attribute the jump to tighter monitoring, expanded CCTV coverage and a growing focus on enforcing anti-littering laws. Councils have increasingly targeted hotspots where drivers and passengers are known to discard rubbish from car windows.
The FOI responses reveal a consistent year-on-year rise:
- 2020: 445 fines (estimated revenue: £61,130)
- 2021: 881 (£121,022)
- 2022: 1,245 (£171,025)
- 2023: 2,168 (£297,818)
- 2024: 2,659 (£365,266)
- 2025 to August: 1,942 (£266,772)
If current monthly averages continue, approximately 243 fines per month, councils are on track to issue over 2,900 fines by the end of 2025, marking the highest annual total yet.
Bradford Leads National Enforcement
Among all responding authorities, Bradford City Council stands out by a significant margin, issuing 6,280 fines – far more than any other area. According to the data, the top five enforcers are:
- Bradford City Council (Yorkshire) – 6,280 fines
- Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (North West) – 571
- North Lincolnshire Council (East Midlands) – 480
- Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (North West) – 374
- Blackpool Borough Council (North West) – 260
A spokesperson for Bradford City Council explained how increased enforcement took shape:
“An officer reviewing footage for a suspected fly-tipping case noticed significant litter on a nearby street. Further examination revealed drivers outside a takeaway throwing rubbish from their car windows.
We later added additional cameras at other hotspots, and we now operate between 20 and 30 cameras.”
Legal Powers and Penalty Levels
Vehicle littering is explicitly prohibited under Rule 147 of the Highway Code, which forbids motorists or passengers from discarding any item from a vehicle, including food waste, drinks containers, cigarette ends, paper or packaging. The offence falls under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Since powers were strengthened in 2018, councils have been able to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500, with liability placed on the registered keeper, regardless of who actually discarded the waste.
Despite the maximum limit, most local authorities set their penalties between £100 and £150, with the national average at £137. FOI requests show that Buckinghamshire Council was the only authority to impose a fine at the full £500 rate.
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According to letsrecycle.com