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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jane Lavender

How your empty pizza boxes could land you with a huge fine - and how to avoid it

Everyone loves a takeaway - the perfect indulgence that you can have at home.

But once someone else has made your meal, and you've scoffed it, be very careful what you do with your empty box.

Litter enforcement officers, Danny and Mick, are some of the stars of Channel 5's Grime and Punishment.

And they're constantly on the hunt for people to fine for making a mess of Britain's streets.

So, when they come across a pile of discarded pizza boxes, they ready to issue fines.

A takeaway is the ultimate treat (SWNS.com)
Mick and Danny come across a pile of pizza boxes (C5)

Mick says: "There is often a sticker on the box with the customer's address.

"People don't peel that off because they just don't think about it."

People can be fined £75 for dropping litter.

But if this fixed penalty notice isn't paid within 14 days they can be taken to court and ordered to pay up to £2,500 and even leave with a criminal record.

Spitting can also land culprits with a hefty fine.

One man is issued with a £75 for dropping a cigarette butt (C5)

Danny and Mick come across a shop keeper who has spat a grape seed onto the pavement.

But when he's spotted and picks it up to put it in the bin, they're unable to issue a fixed penalty notice.

Danny says: "If I'd done that my dad would give me a slap - don't spit, don't litter and just be a good person."

However, when Danny and Mick spot a man dumping his cigarette butt on the pavement, they are able to issue him with a fine.

Danny explains why he's handing the smoker a fixed penalty notice and is unmoved when the man tells him he claims Job Seekers Allowance and has no way of paying the £75 fine.

Danny says: "You were right next to the bin. I understand his situation, that he's on Job Seekers Allowance, and he says he can't afford to pay.

"But we have to issue the fixed penalty notice. You get a lot of people who claim they can't afford to pay but they keep doing it and it's a criminal offence."

And the only way to avoid such a heft fine - just don't dump litter in the first place. 

  • Grime and Punishment is on Channel 5 tonight at 8pm.
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