Few – but more – litterers have been fined

Thrown a fart on the ground? Or thrown candy wrappers and chewing gum around you? From the turn of the year, even small litterers risk fines of hundreds of kroner.

And it seems to have had an effect – roughly 300 percent more administrative fines were issued in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

Before January 1 this year, it was not punishable for minor littering offences, such as littering with a cigarette butt or a piece of chewing gum. But with a change in the Environmental Code that came into force at the turn of the year, the police can now issue a fine of SEK 800 against a person who is seen littering in this way.

“Littering is problematic from several environmental perspectives. It leads to a worse urban environment, direct environmental damage to animal life and causes the spread of microplastics in the ocean and water,” said the then Environment and Climate Minister Per Bolund (MP) in a written comment when the change was made clear.

In the past, the police have also been able to fine those who are guilty of less serious littering, such as when someone litters with small amounts of rubbish such as glass bottles, disposable grills or fast food packaging.

“Using the tool”

Statistics from the police, which TT was given access to, show that up to and including June this year, 139 administrative fines have been issued for littering offences. The figures include both less serious littering and minor littering offences, so it is not possible to see exactly what impact the change had. On the other hand, when comparing with the same period in previous years, it can be stated that the administrative fines were significantly more now than before. In 2018, for example, 48 administrative fines had been issued up to and including June, in 2021 the corresponding figure was 34.

– It is gratifying that more people are being fined, because it means that the police are using the tool. On the other hand, we do not aim for as many people as possible to be fined, but for the law itself to have a preventive effect, so that there is less littering. And we believe and hope for that, says Johanna Ragnartz, CEO of the organization Keep Sweden Clean.

TT: But a total of 139 administrative fines is not very many, is it?

– No, it isn’t. After all, one can naturally imagine that behind the fines there may be some people whom the police approached and who then picked up their rubbish and thus did not receive a fine. We don’t know how big the numbers are.

Not scouting

Only next year will it be possible to see if the change has produced any results in terms of littering, according to Johanna Ragnartz.

The statistics also show that the number of issued fines differs between the different police regions. In the south, the number is 29, while the Bergslagen police region only issued nine.

– This is a crime of discovery, it must take place in front of the eyes of a police patrol. It’s not the case that resources are devoted to standing around and scouting for people who throw away trash, says Lars Hedelin, press spokesperson at the Bergslagen police region.

Make a raid

But a more targeted effort is exactly what Keep Sweden would like to see.

– Actually, we would like to work on this much like speeding. So that you make a raid and focus on the issue for maybe a week, so that so many people are fined that everyone at least knows someone who got a fine. It’s about making the fine known and really understanding that there is a real threat from this law, says Johanna Ragnartz.

The fact that a person throws a fidget or a candy wrapper on the ground can be seen as a trifle. But in its legislative council referral, the government at the time states that all the smaller amounts of rubbish together give rise to major effects on the environment. During one week in June 2020, a national litter survey was carried out, in which approximately 35 million items of litter were found, which together weighed approximately 60 tons.

– It is important that this becomes known and that people understand that it is important, even if it may seem a bit silly and not like a big deal. But we are facing a time where we have to make huge changes, everywhere. And this is a small effort, that we actually take care of what we have, says Johanna Ragnartz.

Facts

So many have been fined – region by region

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Administrative fines over the years

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