 The fine has been increased to �50 |
Efforts to tackle fly-tipping in Scotland are to receive a �250,000 windfall. Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson announced the extra cash on a visit to Lanarkshire.
The money will be given to the Scottish Fly-tipping Forum to help tackle the problem of illegally dumped rubbish.
Fly-tipping costs Scotland's councils about �2.5m every year.
However, the Scottish Executive wants offenders to clean up their act.
Ministers have already doubled on-the-spot fines for litter louts.
The �50 penalty brings Scotland into line with England and Wales. Proposed anti-social behaviour legislation suggests giving local authorities more powers to clamp down on individual and corporate fly-tippers.
Now the additional �250,000, which was spare at the end of the financial year, is being allocated to address the problem.
Mr Wilson said: "Fly-tipping is unsightly, potentially dangerous and harms our environment. Furthermore, it is against the law.
"The Scottish Executive is determined to tackle all forms of anti-social behaviour and this money will go some way towards helping tackle what is becoming a bigger and bigger social problem.
"Fly-tipping is a scar on our communities."