Council wardens in Amsterdam handed out over 20,000 fines to people dumping rubbish in the street last year, and investigated some 30,000 complaints about waste since June, the Parool reported on Wednesday.

Some 6% of the fines went to companies, the rest to private individuals who were identified by addresses left on cardboard boxes or on envelopes in bin bags.

The city has also brought in 30 extra rubbish lorries to collect the waste.

People caught dumping rubbish face a fine of €95 but this can go up to €1,250 for persistent offenders.

Laurens Ivens, the city official responsible for waste collection, says the summer offensive is starting to have an impact.

The volume of large waste – such as unwanted furniture – has gone down by 60% and two thirds of underground containers merit a B for cleanliness, he told the city council in a briefing.

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