Anti-litter Campaign Targets Leafleting

Handing out free promotional materials such as leaflets and flyers is to be regulated in parts of Belfast as part of the city council’s anti-litter campaign.

The decision was taken by members of the council’s Health and Environmental Services Committee following a public consultation, and was ratified by full council at its meeting last night.

The distribution of free material – which includes leaflets/catalogues, balloons, stickers, newspapers, bags, wristbands and clothing - will be banned in parts of the city centre and university area while other areas will be 'designated', meaning that material can only be distributed if you have a permit from Belfast City Council.

From May 1, 2013, when the order comes into effect, anyone distributing material without a permit will be fined £80 and if prosecuted, offenders face a fine of up to £2,500.

Councillor Pat McCarthy, chairman of the Health and Environmental Services Committee, said the policy was aimed at reducing the amount of litter that ends up on the city’s streets.

He said: "You've only to walk around the town at lunchtime and you’ll see people out and about, handing out flyers to people as they rush past and nine times out of 10, they end up being thrown on the ground. Littering is an offence, first and foremost, but we wanted to try to get to the source of the problem.

"Littering is unsightly and is a real bug bear for many people. We understand that businesses need to advertise and need to advertise cheaply, but this new policy is about trying to manage the situation and bring some order to a practice which at the minute is very haphazard.

"Certain parts of our city centre are magnets for people distributing leaflets and it contributes greatly to the overall littering problem which costs the council £11m yearly."

Prohibited areas will include the City Hall grounds and the surrounding Donegall Square as well as Cornmarket and Arthur Square, and Castle Arcade. And in the university area of south Belfast, University Road, Stranmillis Road and Botanic Gardens will also be prohibited zones.

Anyone wishing to distribute printed materials can apply to the council for a permit. An annual permit costs between £450 and £1,800 and a daily permit £75-£150.

The introduction of the Distribution of Free Printed Matter (Belfast) Designation Order 2012 falls under the remit of the Clean Neighbourhoods Act which came into effect last April and gave councils greater powers to tackle environmental issues.

(GK)