Householders will be banned from putting out their trash any earlier than 7.30pm on evenings before collection, under new regulations announced by Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess.He told the House of Assembly that Government was taking a number of steps to “combat the growing problem of littering and illegal dumping on our Island” as promised in last year's Throne Speech.They include the new rule on household trash, on-the-spot tickets for littering, a tougher penalty for driving with an uncovered load and allowing video and circumstantial evidence in criminal cases of illegal dumping.The Public Works Minister said on Friday: “Littering and illegal dumping not only impacts the public health and safety of our residents, it impacts the beauty of this tourist destination, thus tarnishing the image of Bermuda, which results in considerable clean-up costs for the Government and the private sector.”Mr Burgess praised Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) and the many exempt companies who “tirelessly volunteer their efforts” to keep the Island clean. He added: “As such, it behoves us to ensure that the standards of cleanliness that we have been accustomed to are supported by legislation, so these same standards are maintained.”The Minister said the Waste and Litter Control Act 1987 would be amended to allow new types of evidence to be admissible in court to establish culpability for illegal dumping offences.“In the past such offences have been very difficult to prosecute due to the amount of stringent evidence required,” said Mr Burgess. “One new type of evidence being considered is that of video surveillance.“Circumstantial evidence is also proposed to be used to establish culpability.”Such evidence could include mail, such as utility bills; serial numbers from computers and household appliances; and vehicle identification numbers. Mr Burgess said a new licensing system for waste truckers would protect residents from being prosecuted if their trash was dumped illegally and make sure garbage got to its intended destination.Another amendment to the Act will allow police, traffic wardens, park rangers and other government enforcement officers to issue on-the-spot tickets to those seen littering, including pedestrians and those on boats. Those ticketed will have to pay a fine in Magistrates' Court, unless they choose to have a court appearance to defend themselves against the allegation. The Minister said the Road Traffic Act 1947 would also be changed to increase the maximum fine for driving a commercial truck with an uncovered load from $70 to $1,000.He said the problem of household waste put out on the wrong day, encouraging feral chickens and vermin, would be tackled with a “policy guideline drafted to regulate the placement time of trash for kerbside collection”.