Nearly £7,000 in income from fixed penalty notices (FPNs) was collected by Vale of Glamorgan Council between April 2023 and March 2024, with 110 fines issued and 70 paid during the 12-month period.
The numbers place the council among the most active in Wales for penalising littering, though it has disputed similar national figures that put the total slightly higher.
A council spokesperson said: “Our Enforcement team works proactively to address a range of environmental offences, including littering, waste crime such as fly-tipping, dog fouling, and other offences covered by Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).
“Enforcement action, including the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices where appropriate, forms a part of our much wider efforts to keep the Vale clean and protect our shared spaces, and we also work closely with residents, businesses and community groups to encourage responsible behaviour and care for our local environment.”
The Vale sits above Cardiff, Carmarthenshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf in the dataset.
They say the team routinely targets known hotspots, responds to complaints from residents and works with other departments to identify repeat problem areas.
Council officials stress that FPNs are just one element of their wider environmental strategy.
The broader approach includes education campaigns, work with schools, and community events to promote responsible behaviour and reduce litter.
National data compiled by waste experts Panda shows the scale of enforcement across Wales, with 564 littering FPNs issued in total during the same timeframe—worth £47,190.
Almost a quarter of those fines remain unpaid.
Environmental groups support strong enforcement but argue that deterrence alone is not enough.
They call for improved bins, public awareness, and regular street cleaning to address the root causes of littering.
By combining enforcement with education, the council aims to reduce the need for future fines while fostering long-term behaviour change in the community.
The figures highlight the continuing challenge of keeping streets clean and public spaces litter-free, and the need for a balanced approach that addresses both immediate offences and the underlying attitudes that fuel them.
