Suva City Council will step up its enforcement of the litter law soon when 46 of its staff become enforcement officers within the city's boundary.

This would mean that offenders in the city will run a higher risk of being spot fined $40 because of the increased presence of enforcement officers.

The $40 penalty is to be paid within 21 days.

SCC director Health Services Eroni Kotoiwasawasa who said the 46 staff were undergoing a refresher course on littering.

He said those who fail to pay their penalty on time would be taken to court with a penalty not less than $100.

"It seems that most people just do not appreciate a healthy and litter-free environment,"he said.

"This is one major reason we are going to take this very seriously.

"Some people do follow the law and do the right thing but there are others that need to reminded with penalties to act."He said council staff who work along the streets and the market areas of Suva have been tasked as litter prevention officers.

"So we have outdoor inspectors, parking meter attendants, market attendants as well as councillors who are going to spearhead this move,"he said.

Mr Kotoiwasawasa said the officers would not take things lightly now.

"It is only right that who ever breaks the law would face the consequence and this would definitely be the case for those that are found littering,"he said.

"We are going to request the police assistance later on and we hope that they would welcome the initiative to keep Suva clean,"Mr Kotoiwasawasa said.

He had earlier stated that public littering was one cause of the flash floods in Nabua a week ago.

Mr Kotoiwasawasa said people forget that all the rubbish that is thrown on the streets later end up in drains, which clogs it and caused roads and streets to flood.

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