Local authorities in Cambridgeshire have generated approximately £100,000 (nearly $127,000 USD) from littering fines since the start of 2023, according to new figures. Councils across the county have issued 889 fixed penalty notices for littering offenses.
Cambridge City Council issued the largest number of fines, accounting for 776 of the total 889 penalties. This resulted in about £83,000 in revenue for the city council, representing 86% of the county's total earnings from littering fines. The number of fines issued by Cambridge City Council has shown a declining trend over the years, with 374 issued in 2023, 271 in 2024, 82 in 2025, and 49 so far this year.
Other councils in Cambridgeshire collected significantly less revenue and issued fewer fines. South Cambridgeshire District Council issued 33 fines, generating £6,720. East Cambridgeshire District Council issued 22 fines for £3,601. Peterborough City Council issued 45 fines, bringing in £1,200. Fenland District Council handed out six fines for £1,000, and Huntingdonshire District Council issued seven fines totaling £900.
These figures specifically address fines for littering and do not include penalties for fly-tipping, which authorities have previously reported as having more than doubled in the past year. Harry Machin, a volunteer litter picker in Peterborough, suggested that other councils could learn from Cambridge's approach to issuing fines.