Belfast businesses fined over litter offences

At Belfast Magistrates Court earlier this week, three city centre businesses were fined a total of £700, plus associated costs, for offences under the 1994 Litter Order.

The offences related to the improper presentation of commercial waste left outside the premises for kerbside collection. The cases were brought by Belfast City Council Health and Environmental Services Department after each of the businesses concerned refused to pay £25 fixed penalty notices. This refusal cost one of the businesses £300 plus £47 costs and each of the other two £200 plus £47 costs.

“These judgments should serve as a reminder to all businesses in the City of Belfast that they have a duty of care when it comes to waste disposal and of the need to ensure that commercial waste is presented in a proper manner and does not present an additional hazard,” said Drew Blair, Waste Management Officer with Belfast City Council.

Mr Blair reminded businesses that refuse for kerbside collection should be presented in accordance with the advice issued to commercial premises by the Council.

Belfast City Council has a number of other cases pending against businesses for similar offences.

In a separate case, the casual act of throwing a cigarette on the pavement cost a Belfast man almost £100, when he was fined £50 plus £47 costs for a moment of thoughtlessness.

“This judgment should serve as a reminder to everyone that even something as incongruous as a cigarette butt is litter, and that Belfast City Council is adopting a proactive approach toward tackling the whole issue of littering, not only in the city centre but throughout Belfast as a whole,” said Mr Blair.

(GMcG)