Anna Lo MLA said: “I think people will be shocked that such a large sum of money was spent cleaning up litter last year. I hope that this news will show people the financial consequences of littering and encourage them to pick up their rubbish.
“We need to see a change in attitude by the public that it is not acceptable to drop your rubbish in the street.
“There is a role for parents to play by setting a good example for their children to follow by taking any rubbish, such as crisp packets, home to dispose of if they can’t find a nearby bin.
“Councils must also be more proactive and place more bins on our streets to prevent littering.”
ENDS