Monmouthshire County Council has been handed sweeping new powers to hand out heavy fines to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping.

Approving legislation last week, Welsh Government ministers pushed through plans granting councils to issue fixed penalty fines between £150 to £400 for those caught illegally dumping rubbish.

A default £200 penalty will be issued where an amount has not been specified, and the new rules apply to both public and private land.

Lesley Griffiths AM, cabinet secretary for environment and rural affairs, suggested that authorities would have to ease into applying the measures.

“I feel it is important local authorities accompany these new powers with the appropriate level of public engagement, awareness-raising and wider education programmes. I believe this is essential to ensure a positive response from the public and a sustainable reduction in offending behaviour,” she said.

“These powers will provide local authorities with an additional enforcement tool for small-scale fly-tipping offences where a prosecution is considered disproportionate.

“I am sure local authorities and communities will welcome these new powers.”

Cleaning up rubbish dumped on roadsides and public areas cost Monmouthshire County Council an estimated £13,000 last year – one of the best performances of all Welsh local authorities.