Vow to get tough on illegal dumpers in new crackdown

Fife’s environment convener is preparing to go into battle against illegal dumpers and fly-tippers. Ross Vettraino is drawing up a new get tough approach to “environmental vandalism” which costs taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds a year to clean up.

And the SNP councillor is also planning talks with the procurator fiscal.

This is to ensure the service is in a position to support calls for the prosecution of more dumpers.

Mr Vettraino said: “I don’t think Fife Council does a very good job of policing the situation at the moment but watch this space.”

Among the ammunition being proposed is more use of mobile CCTV cameras to catch people in the act.

And council officers will be knocking on the doors of waste carriers used by local businesses and asking to see their certificates.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to report any illegal activity they see.

Mr Vettraino added: “One of our officers has coined the expression ‘see it, say it’ and that’s what we’ll be encouraging people to do. If you see something suspicious, tell somebody about it. If you don’t want to take them on, note their registration number and report it.”

The Glenrothes councillor has always denied that the booking system to use Fife’s recycling centres contributes to fly-tipping.

In fact, he believes scrapping the system could cost the council more.

“We did a survey that estimated commercial waste being dumped illegally at our recycling centres cost us £1.5 million a year,” he said. “The council will now need to utilise all the resources that are available to it.”

Councillors agreed last week that bookings should stop but it has not yet been announced when that will happen.

Mr Vettraino said: “There are two types of illegal dumping.

“There’s the type carried out by Joe Public who can’t be bothered going to a recycling centre and just dumps it in the countryside or at recycling points.

“And there’s the other type who’s taking money from the public to take their waste away and is then dumping it. We want to tackle both types and we don’t want to do that by way of a £200 fixed penalty.

“I want them to be prosecuted because a sheriff can fine up to £2,500 for illegal dumping.”

He added: “In addition, a lot of illegal dumping takes place at recycling points at the likes of Tesco in Dunfermline.

“We’ll be using mobile CCTV cameras and moving them from one hotspot to another.

“Small things like that will make a big difference.”

BATTLE STATIONS: Ross Vettraino at one of the recycling points where illegal dumping has been happening.