Report a problem with litter
We have a duty to clear litter from public places, such as streets, parks, playgrounds and pedestrian areas.
You can report litter to our cleansing team using our online form.
Report a littering offence
If you witness the dropping of litter, are happy to provide a statement and the person can be identified (such as the wearing of uniform, working in a shop or going into their property), you can report this to us and we can investigate it.
Similarly, if you witness the dropping of litter from a vehicle, are happy to provide a statement and information in relation to the vehicle registration number then we can investigate further.
Dropping litter (including cigarette ends and chewing gum) is against the law with a maximum penalty of £2,500 in a magistrates' court. If an act of littering is witnessed by a neighbourhood officer, a fixed penalty notice of £150 can be issued immediately (reduced to £90 if paid within 10 days of issue).
So that we can deal with your report as quickly as possible, it's important to consider the following information:
- details of the incident including a description of the individual and item dropped. If it was from a moving vehicle, the vehicle registration number
- the date and time of the incident
- the location of the incident
- any evidence you have such as photos or videos
What happens next
The case will be allocated to a neighbourhood officer who may conduct a visit to the location (if required) and start their investigations. The case officer will contact you with an update of progress on your report.
If the case officer has sufficient evidence, they may issue a fixed penalty notice of £150 to the offender (reduced to £90 if paid within the first 10 working days of issue). If payment is not made for the fixed penalty notice, the case may be passed to the council’s legal representatives for prosecution.
If you need to report an issue to the team please contact 01242 262626 or report an issue online using the links above.
If you need to discuss an existing case please contact 01242 264135 or email envhealth@cheltenham.gov.uk.
Litter picking
View our litter picking pages if you're interested in setting up a litter pick, or joining an existing group.