SMOKERS who drop their cigarette butts are being warned to stop or face a £75 fine.
Basildon Council is calling on those who drop their cigarette ends to think twice and use an ash tray.
The council’s environmental enforcement team has recently been bolstered by four new officers from Xfor, a private company contracted by the council to work alongside existing enforcement officers to tackle littering.
Councillor Malcolm Buckley, cabinet member for environment, said: “The council is serious about tackling the blight of cigarette ends which are an all too familiar sight on our streets.
“We’ve demonstrated our commitment to keeping our streets clean and free of litter like cigarette butts by undertaking this trial contract with Xfor, who supply support to our existing officers.
“We hope to send the message - it is wrong to drop litter, even cigarette butts.”
The extended trial service comes at no cost to the council as the additional enforcement staff are employed by the contractor who will take the majority of the income from fixed penalty notices.
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