NEW figures released by the government show Craigavon has the second highest number of litter louts across all of the province.
Last year Craigavon Borough Council dished out 349 fines, charging the litter louts £17,450.
Penalties can be issued for allowing dogs to foul public areas, dropping fast food containers and cigarette butts.
Each year since the measures were in
troduced the amount of fines issued has more than doubled.
In 2005/6, 85 were issued and in 2006/7 a total of 192 were issued.
The figures were released by the Department of Environment in response to an Assembly question.
And new figures from the council suggest the trend is likely to increase.
A spokeswoman for the council said the council employs two litter wardens for the borough.
"The council takes a very proactive approach to the problem, it is more about education than issuing fines.
"While our wardens' primary duty is to patrol and be on the look out for those who litter, they also help out with recycling initiatives and trouble shooting.
"We will target areas where litter is a persistent problem, by varying patrols and targeting certain times of the day."
In October, 75 £50 fines were issued, the most of which were for cigarette butts and fast food litter. In one instance an individual was fined £50 and £126 in costs for failing to provide a name and address after being caught letting their dog foul the pavement.
"We try to issue a warning where possible, however, the wardens can get a lot of abuse and are left no option but to issue a fine."
Belfast City Council ranked first in the list of fines issued last year with 1,790. And Fermanagh District Council was lowest, handing out no fines.
The full article contains 303 words and appears in Lurgan Mail newspaper.
