Forget the carrot, it’s time to use the big stick on litter louts

Councils must get tough to stamp out the problem of our rubbish-strewn streets, says Clark Cross

Here comes yet another attempt to reduce litter, with the proposal to introduce deposits on bottles and cans. Over the years litter and fly tipping problems have grown to epidemic proportions, and the cleanup costs to councils are horrendous.

Politicians have said that litter education is the way forward, but they said this 40 years ago and it failed.

Already there are bottle banks for the public to use in the streets and at refuse sites. The household renewables bins are well used, it is getting the litter idiots to use the numerous street bins that is the problem.

Why should the conscientious recycler now have to trek to a bottle or can refund location?

A charge of 10p will not stop the serial litter lout dropping his carryout meal packaging and can of coke which costs about £6.

The Scottish Government froze council tax and litter wardens were part of a cost cutting exercise. It’s time to bring them back – not on a nine-to-five job, but to target the hot spots such as fast food outlets and pubs and in the evenings as well as street patrols.

Litter is left by the travelling community where they camp, However they are immune to prosecution, leaving councils to clear up the mess at huge cost to taxpayers.

Because some councils are inefficient in collections and the bins too small many households fly tip overflowing rubbish.

Meanwhile small business people cannot afford to pay the high charg-