THE number of fines issued for fly-tipping in Inverclyde has more than trebled according to new figures.

Inverclyde Council issued 31 fixed penalty notices for illegal dumping in 2022/23, which is a significant rise from the previous year’s figure of nine.

The local authority is able to issue fines of up to £200 to those caught fly-tipping.

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Of the 31 fines issued to people caught dumping items, 10 were paid, meaning that officers collected £2,000 over the last year.

Complaints about fly-tipping fell during the same period, down to 502 from the previous year’s tally of 563.

Greenock Central and East, one of the area’s six ‘localities', was the worst for fly-tipping complaints, with no fewer than 235 made.

It is also the most complained about patch over the last five years, with 36 per cent of all concerns raised since April 2018 relating to the area.

Greenock has seen the most fixed penalty notices over the same five-year period, accounting for 70 per cent of all fines issued.

In the last five years the council has not referred any of its fixed penalty notices to the procurator fiscal.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said the local authority was working to address fly-tipping wherever it occurred.

They added: "The council supports the community through facilities and enforcement action to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

“The key to tackling it is it not happening in the first place and for that the wider community needs to support by continuing to use recycling facilities and not fly-tipping and keeping our streets litter free. 

“Enforcement is always a last resort but the data shows that we will take action if required though we would always prefer that we didn't have to.

“We rely on information to carry out any enforcement action and would encourage the community to let us know about the actions of the small minority who carry out anti-social behaviour. "