Fly-tipping worry as recycling sites close
‘Report waste dumpers’
Fears have been raised that the coronavirus crisis could lead to an increase in fly-tipping across Perth and Kinross.
It was announced on Tuesday night that the council was closing its nine recycling centres during the three-week lockdown.
And Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart has urged residents to report anyone they spot dumping waste.
He said: “Fly-tipping and illegal dumping are a blight on local environmental quality, a hazard to human health and wildlife, a source of pollution and ultimately a grave nuisance.
“In addition to all this; fly-tipping costs private landowners, who are responsible for any clean-up, tens of millions of pounds per year in clean-up costs alone.
“There are also additional costs in running the appropriate reporting and response services, as well as hidden costs in amenity and environmental degradation.
“In Scotland, the National Litter Strategy sets out interventions to reduce fly-tipping by encouraging personal responsibility for disposing of waste and improving waste information, infrastructure, and enforcement.
“But we all must be vigilant, especially at this extremely difficult time when council tips and recycling centres are full, are closed or are operating a reduced-hour service due to a mandatory lack of staff.
“Local authorities and SEPA possess the powers to fine people who are caught fly-tipping, with a minimum fixed penalty of £200 and up to a £40,000 fine if prosecuted.”
Perth and Kinross Council announced the closure of the nine recycling centres across the region earlier this week.
The decision has been made “in the interest of public health” and to “prioritise the delivery of critical services.”
Residents are, however, being advised that kerbside bin collections are continuing as normal with bins to be on the kerb by 7.30am.
The council runs recycling centres in Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Bankfoot, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross and Pitlochry as well as the Friarton and Inveralmond sites in Perth.
A statement on the Perth and Kinross Council Facebook page said: “In the interest of public health and to prioritise the delivery of critical services, we are closing all nine of our Recycling Centres across Perth and Kinross today.
“If you have items you would normally dispose of at recycling centres, we’d ask that you store these items securely until services resume. In addition, we have suspended all bulky uplifts, skip hire, bin repair and replacement (except for deliveries to assist people with no container for general waste disposal) and closed council-operated public toilets due to significantly reduced footfall.
“For more information on waste and recycling service disruption caused by Covid-19, please visit www.pkc.gov.uk/ coronavirus/waste”
Instances of fly-tipping can be reported to the National Dumb Dumpers Stopline on 0300 777 2292 or email Zero Waste Scotland on https:// www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/ DumbDumpers ”