Continuing crackdown on waste

Today we report of another successful prosecution by Sunderland City Council in its crackdown against rubbish dumpers who blight our city.

A Sunderland mum who left waste in her back lane must now pay more than £400 in fines and court costs.

Sunderland Magistrates’ Court heard that a city council environment inspector had visited the woman at her home in Millfield, after a white plastic chair and about 20blackplasticbagsofhousehold waste had been left.

The Echo launched its Clean Streets campaign in response to concern from readers about the state of the city’s streets.

And since the beginning of last year, the city council has issued 1,390 Formal Warnings and Notices and served 173 Fixed Penalty Notices for environmental crimes across the city, including littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping.

The prosecutions have been welcomed by Councillor Amy Wilson, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, who said: “The vast majority of people in Sunderland help keep their neighbourhoods and our city clean and tidy.

“Sadly, there’s still a minority who do not accept responsibility for their actions and it’s not good enough that they think they can just throw and dump their waste wherever and whenever they like.

“The council has increased its enforcement powers and is continuing to prosecute and investigate litter bugs at every available opportunity.”

Meanwhile if your area is blighted by litter, dumping or fly-tipping, call the Echo’s newsdesk on 0191 501 7436 or report it to the council @sunderland.gov.uk, or on 0191 520 5550, or to your local ward councillor.