Council welcomes conviction of Waterford motorist who throw cigarette butt from car

Waterford City and County Council has welcomed a court ruling which saw a woman who threw a cigarette butt from her car being convicted and fined for littering.

According to the local authority, the woman was fined a total of €1,185 by Judge Kevin Staunton at Waterford District Court on Monday.

It says a prosecution under the Litter Pollution Act was initiated after the woman failed to pay a €150 on-the-spot fine or engage with Waterford City and County Council. 

"Judge Staunton, on convicting the woman, said it was a clear case of someone failing to engage with the local authority, resulting in the initial fine being increased.  The woman, who did not attend the court, was fined €200, and legal fees and costs of €985 were awarded against her," said a spokesperson for the council.

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Commenting following the conclusion of the case, Niall Kane, senior executive engineer at Waterford City and County Council, welcomed the ruling.

“Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in both Waterford and indeed the world, with an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts discarded every year. Over 50% of litter items identified in surveys carried out by Waterford City and County Council are cigarette related."