Four people have been fined for dropping litter in Carmarthen.
Council environmental enforcement officers issued four fixed penalty notices for £75 whilst on patrol in the town.
Two women, one aged 57 and one aged 23, were fined for dropping cigarette ends onto the ground in Nott Square and Blue Street. A 60-year-old man was also caught dropping a cigarette end in Blue Street.
A 23-year-old man was also fined for throwing a plastic drinks bottle into a hedge in Richmond Terrace.
If any of the four fail to pay the fixed penalty notices they can be prosecuted in court where the maximum fine that can be imposed by magistrates is £2,500.
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said fining people who litter as well as dog fouling is a priority for the council.
He added: “We want a county we can be proud of; we want clean streets and parks for our children to play in and for visitors to enjoy; not full of rubbish and dog mess.
“The council’s enforcement officers carry out patrols across the county and anyone caught throwing litter or failing to clean up after their dog will be fined.
“We are stamping down on this type of crime and anti-social behaviour and hopefully these fines will act as a warning to people that we will no longer stand for it.”
Last year the council issued a total of 213 fixed penalty notices for littering and dog fouling. However; targeted patrols carried out in the four-week period from June 14 has seen a threefold increase in notices issued at 48.
Council Leader Kevin Madge added: “I am delighted by the increase in fines as this is the only way we will get people to behave responsibly. Cleaning our streets of litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping costs the council £2.2 million a year and this money could be better spent on caring for the elderly or on education for our children.
“We will continue to target those caught breaking the law on this way for a cleaner, greener and safer Carmarthenshire.”