Fines for the disposal of garbage in public places need to be increased and better applied if they are to act as a deterrent, according to the manager of the department of environment and waste management at Reykjavík City Council.
Photo: Júlíana Björnsdóttir/Iceland Review.
The police have occasionally fined people for littering. The amount fined depends on the extent of the violation but the minimum fine is ISK 10,000 (USD 80, EUR 61).
According to a report from the department, a total of 17 people were fined in 2007 and five in 2006. The department concludes that police have not really applied fines for littering in recent years, partly because of a shortage of police officers, visir.is reports.
The department manager told visir.is that the direct costs of cleaning up litter in Reykjavík amounts to ISK 60 million but that it should be pointed out that finding individuals for littering only tackles part of the problem.
ZR
