Skip to main content

Litter and the law

Mid Ulster District Council is responsible for enforcing laws on litter. We also deal with a range of other offences like fly-tipping, graffiti, fly-posting and dog fouling.

Under the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994, it's a criminal offence to drop litter (which includes cigarette butts or chewing gum). This means we can fine or prosecute offenders.  


Paying a fine
If you're caught littering, you'll be issued with a fixed penalty notice and will have to pay a fine of £80. You must pay the fine within 14 days to avoid prosecution. 

You can pay by online, phone, post or in-person.


How do I pay a Fixed Penalty Notice?

The Fixed Penalty Notice and any correspondence received will contain all of the information to allow you to make a payment.

You can pay:

  • Online

  • By automated telephone service: 0330 333 4382

  • By cash: by taking the slip to a Post Office or PayZone outlet and scanning the barcode.


If you don't pay the fine
If you don't pay the fixed penalty you'll be summonsed to appear in court, and if convicted you could face a fine of up to £2,500. 

For further information or to report a littering offence please contact our Clean Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers on:

Telephone 03000 132 132 or email our Environmental Health Department. 


How many Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued?
Period 1 (18.01.22 – 22.03.22)    Period 2 (23.03.22 – 27.05.22)

  • Cigarette Related*  538              429

  • Food Related           38                 55

  • Drink Related           21                  22

  • Dog Fouling             5                      7

  • Chewing Gum         9                      3

  • Other                        39                     26

  • Total                         650                  542

*Please note that cigarette butts make up the largest proportion of all litter on our streets - over 481,000 butts on any one day, according to a litter composition study by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

You can now report environmental issues such as dog-fouling, fly-tipping, litter or graffiti direct from your smart phone or tablet through the Council's Binovation app.  

Simply download the app free of charge, from the App store or Google Play store onto your smart phone or tablet.

Live Here Love Here

Get involved in local community clean ups!  

Live Here Love Here offers  volunteering opportunities under the headings of Clean Ups, Green Ups and Spruce Ups. 

To find out more visit www.liveherelovehere.org