‘IT’S JUST RUBBISH’
Residents voice concerns over fly-tipping and litter across city
RESIDENTS of one Welsh city are angry about “horrendous” rubbish and flytipping. Individuals and groups from across Newport are unhappy with ongoing issues in the city centre and more residential areas.
“The bins are full and people put their rubbish on the floor,” says Diane Tamarevicivte, who works in a restaurant on Commercial Street. “Our cleaner from our restaurant has to clean up outside.”
Addressing issues in the city centre, Newport council last week proposed an additional £213,000 of funding to “make the city centre more attractive, safer and cleaner” as part of its 2020/21 budget.
Councillor Roger Jeavons, cabinet member for city services, says: “At a time of stretched resources, we are paying to pick up other people’s rubbish, funding which could be directed to other frontline services.”
These are concerns which spread beyond the city centre to more residential areas.
“It’s horrendous around the Peterstone area,” says Brian Miles, chairman of Peterstone Community Council.
“There have been dead horses, raw meat, caravans. Sometimes rubbish can be there for weeks, and it can be a real danger.”
Fly-tipping and litter have also been identified as a problem across other areas of Newport, such as Pillgwenlly, Ringland and Maindee.
“There’s lots of rubbish in local woods,” says Kamila Jarczak, a Ringland resident. “It’s sad because it’s around the school. It doesn’t give a good example to the kids going there.”
Ms Jarczak, organiser behind the group Women of Newport, goes out litter-picking with her husband in her spare time. She says her family tries to recycle as much as possible and is happy with the current push that Newport City Council has made to increase recycling, believing that more education for residents and more action taken against fly-tippers is the best solution.
“People blame the council for increased fly-tipping, and smaller bins in particular,” says Ms Jarczak. “We have to change habits to improve the quality of the environment, we can’t carry on like this any more.”
In Pillgwenlly, where local organisation Pride in Pill organises frequent litter picks and collection of sharps from around the community, issues surrounding rubbish and fly-tipping are also keenly felt.
“This year alone we’ve picked up 2,000 sharps,” says Paul Murphy, chairman of Pride in Pill.
“When we started in 2014, we picked up 275 tonnes in a year. Last year it went down to 120 tonnes,” says Mr Murphy. “Fly-tipping and rubbish has gone down in Pill, now we’ve started clearing fly-tipping in other areas like Ringland.”
Newport council said in a statement: “Enforcement teams investigate incidents of illegal fly-tipping on council adopted highways and footpaths. Under new legislation, they can issue fixed penalty notices of £400 for fly-tipping and £300,000 for duty of care offences.
“Over the last six months enforcement action in relation to waste and fly-tipping offences has included: 45 warning letters;
11 fixed penalty notices; eight £400 fines for fly-tipping; three £100 fines for littering; surveillance work at fly-tipping “hotspots”; and waste licence carrier checks. “They also work closely with South Wales Fire and Rescue and Gwent Police on projects and also with Flytipping Action Wales, and other groups, as well as providing support to community groups on litterpicking events.”
Councillor Roger Jeavons said: “Our teams are working incredibly hard to both raise awareness and crack down on those who selfishly litter and fly-tip. They regularly take part in clean-up operations with other organisations, and many councillors, including myself, have taken part in community litter picks.
“Keeping the city clean is not the sole responsibility of the council, everyone has a part to play.”