The City of Helsinki's Public Works Committee has proposed that fines should be imposed for littering in Helsinki's parks. The fines would be collected either by police officers or by a designated park warden.
According to current legislation, park officials are not able to hand out fines for transgressions of this nature, and the Public Works Committee is suggesting the city turn to the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities to see if an amendment to the law can be worked out.
The City of Helsinki actually no longer employs park wardens, but if the proposal goes through, new vacancies would have to be opened up for specific litter wardens.
The Public Works Committee has said that changing public habits have brought about an increase in the amount of rubbish left behind in parks.
People carry food into the parks for picnics, and just leave the packaging and other rubbish where they drop them. The Committee has called for signs at park entrances urging people to use the bins provided.
A further source of litter and untidiness on the streets has come from the tightened smoking legislation, which has led to people congregating outside bars - where smoking is forbidden - and stubbing their cigarettes out on the pavement.
