SEPA officers return to Fort over illegal fly tipping
OFFICERS from the Waste Crime Team of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have been back in Fort William to continue their investigations into fly tipping at an illegal site at Mount Alexander, Camaghael.
Visits were undertaken last week to local businesses to gather additional information, check permits and reinforce the responsibilities and obligations that apply to anyone producing, carrying or managing waste.
Information notices will be issued to any businesses which are unable to provide details of how they are disposing of their waste.
A previous multi-agency week of activity spanning the end of January and beginning of February, which also involved Police Scotland and Highland Council, has already been successful in raising awareness of relevant legislation and gaining some understanding of the potential origins of the waste.
Building and construction materials are among the various types of waste that have been accumulating at the illegal site in Camaghael for a considerable time.
SEPA says it is evident that tradesmen in the area are persistently dumping waste materials at the site to avoid paying the cost of disposal at legitimate waste management sites.
And this, says the agency, is clearly for financial gain, with complete disregard for the law and the possible environmental consequences.
Remediation work for the site would be complicated given the scale of waste, the unknown nature of older deposits and the risk of it becoming unstable.
SEPA estimates the cost of removal could be as much as £50,000, depending on the types of waste involved.
To deter further flytipping, stone blocks have been donated by a local business to restrict access to the site.
SEPA’s chief executive officer Terry A’Hearn said tackling illegal waste management activities was one of the organisation’s major priorities.
‘It is a criminal offence to illegally dispose of waste, with firm obligations on the waste producer to ensure their waste is managed by a SEPA-registered waste carrier at a fully-licenced site,’ said Mr A’Hearn.
‘We are continuing to work to identify the responsible party for clearing the waste. Tackling those who continue to ignore regulations designed to protect our environment and communities will help ensure this behaviour does not continue.’
SEPA maintains an online register of licenced waste carriers and brokers enabling the public or businesses to check and ensure that contractors are sufficiently compliant and says everyone can help end the ‘selfish, criminal fly tipping behaviours that blight our communities’.
Anyone who suspects fly tipping is being carried out, or wants to report illegal traders, can call the Dumb Dumpers Stopline on 0845 2 30 40 90 or by completing a form at www. dumbdumpers.org.