Vehicle owners could face fines for litter thrown from cars in Wales
A registered vehicle owner could be issued a civil penalty for rubbish thrown from the car under a proposal being considered by the Welsh Government. The owner could be liable even if another person threw the litter and even if the owner was not in the vehicle.
Roadside litter found
- Confectionery packaging
- 81%
- Drinks containers
- 72%
- Fast-food litter
- 67%
- Consultation closes
- 14 October
The proposal is part of a wider environmental consultation that closes on 14 October. Ministers have stressed that no decision has been made and are asking for evidence about the economic, environmental and social effects of roadside litter.
Why the law could change
Littering is already a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500, while councils can offer a fixed penalty instead. The problem identified by councils is proving who threw rubbish from a moving vehicle, particularly when several people were inside.
The consultation says the registered keeper is not currently required to identify the person who threw the litter. The proposed civil system would instead make the registered owner responsible for the actions of people in the vehicle. The Welsh Government says comparable powers already exist in England and are due to be introduced in Scotland.
What the roadside survey found
Keep Wales Tidy surveys cited in the consultation found litter on nearly every main road surveyed in Wales in 2025. Confectionery packaging appeared on 81% of those roads, drinks containers on 72% and fast-food litter on 67%.
A separate fly-tipping proposal
The same consultation proposes increasing the maximum fixed penalty for fly-tipping from £400 to £5,000. It also proposes raising the household waste duty-of-care fixed penalty from £300 to £400. More than 1,500 waste-related fixed penalties were issued by Welsh councils in 2024-25, according to the white paper.
How to respond
The consultation asks whether people support civil penalties for registered vehicle owners and seeks evidence about whether the approach works. Responses can be submitted through the Welsh Government consultation page until 14 October.