Council Approves Big Increase in Littering Fines
Rise of £100 for offences also include graffiti and flyposting
A flytip in Coningham Road W12. Picture: H&F Council
October 31, 2025
Fines for littering in a Hammersmith & Fulham are to jump to £250 as the local council looks to stamp down on offending.
From 1 November, Hammersmith and Fulham will be amending some of the Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued by its Law Enforcement Team, with charges for graffiti and flyposting also among those to rise.
The changes follow a series of hikes agreed by the council’s Cabinet last year, which was the first time the charges had been raised since December 2017.
At that meeting Conservative councillor Adronie Alford told the Labour Cabinet members while she had no problem with the increases per se she was concerned about residents receiving FPNs due to rubbish being left by refuse collectors.
“I don’t really want to get a fixed penalty, and I don’t really want any of my residents to get a fixed penalty because of something that hasn’t been caused by a resident but has regretfully been caused by the failure of our operatives,” she said.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the Council, said he had also previously been frustrated by waste left by collectors though that performance had improved under the contract with Veolia.
The latest amendments, which have been agreed by the Cabinet member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, Cllr Rebecca Harvey, list several offences for which the FPNs have been increased.
Namely:
- Littering is going up from £150, with an early repayment amount of £100, to £250, or £200 if paid early
- Graffiti and flyposting is going from £100 to £500, or £250 if paid early
- Household Duty of Care breaches going from £400, with an early repayment amount of £250, to £600 or £300 if paid early
- Commercial waste receptacle breaches going from £110 to £150
- A change has also been agreed to fly-tipping, which attracts a £1,000 FPN after last year’s decision.
Following a review it was proposed, and has since been approved, that fly-tipping should only be applied to rubbish dumped in public spaces that is not part of the regular household waste collection
This may include the likes of bulky items, such as mattresses and furniture.
For normal household waste not put out at the correct times for collection will instead be dealt with as a littering offence.
According to the decision paper: “This balanced approach to enforcement aims to ensure streets remain clear of waste for the maximum amount of time, whilst not being overly burdensome.”
On the financial impact, council officers wrote,“The level of income from the proposed amendments cannot be predicted but will be closely monitored as fines are issued. All funds collected from the FPNs will be used to contribute towards the costs of removing litter and fly tipping and the costs of enforcement.
“Any costs associated with implementing these amendments and setting of the new FPNs will be contained within the existing Law Enforcement Team revenue budget for 2025/26.”
Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s FPNs appear to be roughly in-line with other nearby local authorities.
Kensington and Chelsea Council, for example, charges £300 for littering, fly-posting and graffiti offences.
In Hounslow, the FPN for those caught littering is however notably higher at £500.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter