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Free papers to pay clean-up costs
TOUGH new measures to prevent free newspapers littering the streets were approved on Monday.
Environment chiefs have given a one-month ultimatum to the owners of The Londonpaper and The London Lite to offer to clear up their own mess.
If no agreement is reached they will force News International and Associated Newspapers to contribute to the cost of a clear-up.
The papers together create 20 tonnes of waste every week in Westminster with 900,000 copies daily, according to the council which claims extra costs of £110,000 a year.
Because many of the papers are thrown on the floor they become contaminated and no longer recyclable.
Under the plans designated zones would be created in the West End within which it would be illegal to distribute free printed material without a permit.
The zones are Leicester Square and Charing Cross Road, Oxford Circus, Victoria station and Embankment.
The council says basic human rights are not affected as the move would not affect the distribution of political, religious or charity pamphlets.
The cost of the permit has not yet been disclosed.
Councillor Alan Bradley, member for street environment, said: “We cannot afford to let waste newspapers defacing our streets continue. The publishers have a clear duty to ensure their product does not deface our city.”
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