The number of litter louts being punished in the region has fallen.
Just 16 fines were dished out for littering across Dumfries and Galloway last year – compared to 19 in each of the previous two years.
And of those, nine were for people throwing litter from vehicles – down from 13 in the previous two years.
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP, Finlay Carson, said: “It is upsetting to see rubbish strewn around our town centres and roadside verges, especially the A75 which is used by many visitors to the area.
“What must they think when they see all our beautiful countryside then notice all the litter?”
Figures uncovered by the Scottish Conservatives following a Freedom of Information request show that just 16 fixed-penalty notices were issued for littering in 2022/23.
Of those, 11 were in Nithsdale, four in Annandale and Eskdale, one in Wigtownshire and none in the Stewartry.
Nine of the fines were issued to people who threw litter from their vehicles.
Six were in Nithsdale and three in Annandale and Eskdale.
Mr Carson is hopeful that the change from a SNP/Labour council administration to one led by his Tory colleagues will see the situation improve.
He said: “The previous administration was clearly not interested in tackling this menace as the number of people hit with fixed penalty notices is alarmingly low.
“So, why should people be bothered to take their rubbish home to dump it when they can just let it fall to the ground and walk away?”
“The amount of rubbish strewn along the grass verges on the A75 is shocking and hardly a great advert for tourists visiting the area for the first time.
“Paper, plastic bottles and cans are just being dumped anywhere along rural road verges and, in particular, on the A75.
“I sincerely hope that the new Conservative administration will crackdown on this problem unlike the previous one.”
A council spokesman said the local authority was “pro-actively engaging with communities across our region to collect litter”.
He added: “Part of this work has taken place through 240 litter picking events during the Spring Clean Scotland campaign that ran from March 17 to April 17.
“The impact of lifting a significant number of bags over the four week campaign has had a great impact on the nature, environment, and look of our region. Council services will continue to work together with individuals and community groups to remove litter while ensuring information and education is provided to prevent littering.
“All reports of fly tipping and littering that come into the council’s community safety team are thoroughly investigated in an attempt to identify those who commit such offences, unfortunately on the vast majority of occasions any waste found very rarely has any identifying evidence to assist the team’s enquiries.
He asked people to report littering and fly tipping by calling 030 33 33 3000 by emailing communitysafetyteam@dumgal.gov.uk.
Fly tipping can also be reported online at https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/faultreporting2/AntiSocial/FlyTipping
