Increase in number of reported incidents is ‘truly shocking’

ALLISON OGDEN-NEWTON (left), chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “The rise in large scale fly-tipping incidents being reported each year is truly shocking.

“In 2016 Keep Britain Tidy published ‘Reaching the Tipping Point’ - an action plan to combat fly-tipping, as a direct response to the million incidents reported by local authorities every year. “We called on government, local authorities and magistrates to work together to eradicate the scourge of fly-tipping which blights communities and harms local environments.

“Since then, a little progress has been made, but much more is required.

“The introduction of fixed penalty notices for minor fly-tipping offences and for householders who don’t make checks before giving waste to fly-tippers is a start.

“However, to tackle the larger scale crime, local authorities need to be properly resourced if we are to make a difference.

“This is particularly pertinent given that the cost of clearing up incidents like this is borne directly by local authorities and comes at a time when their budgets are under huge pressure.

“Of course, the substantial increase over time of larger fly-tipping incidents involving tipper trucks and multiple loads - particularly in London - is of real concern.

“It’s quite possible that these numbers represent the involvement of organised gangs in waste crime. If this is the case, then it’s time for the new government to get serious on mass fly-tipping, make it harder for criminals to trade, and give local authorities the resources they need to crack down on this blight on our communities and environment.”