Plymouth City Council is launching a major campaign this week to tackle litter across the city.

The Clear Up or Pay Up campaign promises to get tough on people who put their rubbish out early by issuing £50 fixed penalty notices to offenders.

Households are being sent information about the new campaign as well as a reminder of what time and which day they should put their rubbish out.

To help get the message across, campaign messages will be appearing on buses, bus shelters and advertising boards and Council refuse lorries.

It is hoped that the extensive publicity will make sure all households are aware of the new on-the-spot fines.

The drive has been introduced to tackle the growing problem of residents effectively dumping rubbish in their back lanes too early or too late.

Hundreds of householders repeatedly ignore the requests about putting their bins out at the right time. Residents should not put out their rubbish before 6pm the night before it is due to be collected.

Ripped plastic rubbish bags spread litter, attract vermin such as rats and seagulls as well as cause rubbish to blow around the city. Bags left in the street also attract criminals who rip them open to look for personal details, which they can use to commit fraud.

The Council currently employs two enforcement officers to deal with litter and waste but demand for the service is increasing. There were more than 560 requests for enforcement action in six months this year compared to 411 for the whole of last year.

Extra staff will help with enforcement action, which involves collecting evidence about who is dumping rubbish or repeatedly leaving out rubbish bags too early. This is expected to include the use of surveillance cameras and witness statements to pinpoint offending households.

Councillor George Wheeler, Portfolio Holder for Transport, the Environment and Street Services, said: 'It is wrong for a small number of inconsiderate citizens to spoil the clean environment that most of us want. It is also wrong that the Council should have to spend Council Tax unnecessarily cleaning up after these people.

'This is not simply a Council problem. This is about getting the people who live here to think about their neighbours and not to leave rubbish rotting in the streets.

'We warned people we will get tough and we intend to use these laws to do it. People who put out their rubbish on the wrong day will end up out of pocket.'

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