Tough new litter laws that will allow maximum fines of €130,000 for the most serious offences will come into force next month.
The Minister for State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, announced the new legislation today.
Under Part 4 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, fines on summary conviction for litter offences will increase from €1,904 to €3,000, which is the upper limit for cases heard in the District Court.
The maximum daily fine for continuing offences will increase more than fourfold to €600. In addition, litter offenders may, for the first time, be tried on indictment [before a judge and jury] and fined up to €130,000.
Conviction on indictment is being introduced to provide a greater deterrent to particular categories of littering. It is specifically aimed at companies or organisations who persistently flout the litter laws.
New littering rules will also ban the placement of advertising flyers on vehicles.
Local authorities will be given greater powers to make bye-laws to control litter, including powers to force business owners to wash the public area outside their premises.
"Local authorities have intensified action against litter in recent years," said Mr Gallagher. "More litter wardens are being employed, with significant increases in the number of prosecutions taken and on-the-spot fines issued for litter offences."
Mr Gallagher said a range of anti-litter actions, including awareness initiatives, the National Spring Clean, and a national litter-pollution monitoring system were being pursued as part of the Government's Litter Action Plan.