The idea is part of a planned crackdown on anti-social behaviour such as fly posting, dropping chewing gum and graffiti.

Discarding chewing gum could be classified as littering for the first time.

Fast food companies which hand out "flyers" advertising their products could also be fined.

Do you think it is a good idea to crackdown on litterbugs? Will the fines work? Would you pay?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your reaction

The parks were in the main better places

Barry P, England

Up until the late 1960's park keepers had a power of arrest for some offences, and could report offences for prosecution. The parks were in the main better places for it. Seems like the Victorians knew something about human nature that the 'modern' world has forgotten.
Barry P, England

Why do some people on this forum blame the fast-food restaurants or fly posters?? It is not them that chuck the rubbish on the street is it??
John, UK

Why not fine the companies who create the burger-bun holders, sweet wrappers and disposable coffee cups?
Andy, UK

Down here in Bournemouth they have small "gum plaques" attached to lamp posts. The chewer can stick the gum on this instead of dropping it. They are abundant in the town centre. How about providing logical solutions to theses dilemmas?
David, UK

I think that takeaway shops should pay an extra amount

Andrew Scotford, UK

I think that takeaway shops should pay an extra amount to pay for the tidiness of the surrounding area of their shops.
Andrew Scotford, UK

While litter on the streets is never pleasant, especially the grey lumps of chewing gum which litters our streets like acne; this law does have certain worrying possibilities. Many small organisations stand or fall on the quality of their flyering, live music venues, night-clubs, fringe theatre and art shows. By crucifying them for littering every time some council worker finds one of their flyers on the pavement, we run the risk of putting a lot of small arts organisations out of business.
Mark, UK

The problem of litter in this country is appalling. People just throw their waste wherever, on trains, buses on the streets, even where bins are readily available they are not used. Other countries don't seem to have this problem. However, I can't really see that refuse collectors will have the necessary authority to impose fines. Perhaps Litter Wardens would be a better idea.
Wendy Johnson, UK

If litter fines work in other countries, we should certainly have them here. Also, fast food companies should be fined every time one of their customers drops the associated litter. This would very quickly ensure they'd develop a more environmentally-friendly attitude to their business.
Richard, UK

The UK really should be ashamed at the state of its streets

Sean, Scotland

Fines work in other countries and the UK really should be ashamed at the state of its streets. In an ideal world fines wouldn't be necessary and people wouldn't drop litter. But the reality is that litter in the UK is a problem which is not being dealt with adequately.
Sean, Scotland

Good idea! I doubt every litter lout will pay the fine, but at least it will send out the right signals. I live in a small village in the countryside and I constantly see rubbish, particularly thrown out of car windows, littering the roadside, nappies, bottles, take away wrappers etc. People don't seem to take any pride in keeping their countryside clean.
S. Mitchell, UK

Never mind chewing gum, what about cigarette ends? Gum is worse in itself, but butts are a more widespread problem. The council sweeps away vast piles of them from around offices, bus stops etc, only for them to be replaced with a fresh heap every working day. Punish these filthy people!
Russ, UK

Anything to make London cleaner is a good idea. It is a good idea to crack down, although the problem could be controlled as is by having the current bins in the streets emptied more regularly as opposed to spilling over!
Brad Baylis, London , England

I hate seeing people drop litter and the on-the-spot fine sounds good, but who would dare tackle the group of yobs who are throwing chip papers and beer cans around? Not me.
Andrew H, England

Everybody is an exception to the law, you know

Lisa Maria , UK, ex-US

The fines will only work so long as people enforce them. The town I live in has a horrendous problem with seagull-feeding and dog littering, and although there are rather pricey fines on both actions, they're just as strong as ever. Everybody is an exception to the law, you know.
Lisa Maria , UK, ex-US

Will these fines include all smoking related litter as well? There is nothing worse than piles of stray dogends all over the place.
Stewart Ferris, England

Rather than fines, why not hand out community service orders working in a clean-up crew? Then maybe people will have more pride in their cities.
Steve, UK

If American junk food corporations start getting clobbered for littering it's got to be good

L Morson, United Kingdom

If it means American junk food corporations start getting clobbered for their junk littering our towns and countryside it's got to be a good thing.
L Morson, United Kingdom

I tackled a lad who spat a wadge of chewing gum out earlier this week. I asked him why he did it, he blushed (gratifyingly) but shot straight to denial and aggression. No triumph there but better than when I pointed out to a mother that her young child had dropped her fast food chain cup full of milkshake onto the pavement, when I was met with a volley of foul abuse. Can't see that investing powers in bin men is particularly wise. It all needs longer term back-up in education.
CCC, England

Oh. I thought the litter in my street was last years Turner Prize winner. "Artists" should take their trash home like everyone else.
Paolo Sammut, UK

Litter is an eyesore, expensive and damaging to the environment. I advocate a more serious response to all kinds of littering especially fly-tipping; why not legislate to allow the confiscation of any vehicle used to fly-tip or its equivalent value? And what about making litter-louts have to walk around picking up litter while wearing a daft uniform? Since most of the litter I see dropped comes from youths, and they are painfully image conscious, this could be an effective deterrent.
Giles Cowley, UK