Fight against fly tipping launched

The fight against fly-tippers is now in full swing with the district council’s launch of the latest phase of its ‘Against Litter’ campaign.

Residents are being asked to report cases of fly-tipping using www.chichester.gov. uk/againstflytipping or the Love West Sussex app.

About £350,000 of taxpayers’ money is spent every year clearing up fly-tips in the Chichester district. Last year, the council cleared 971 fly tips – from bikes in Selsey, to tyres in Colworth; used nappies in Itchenor to asbestos in Binderton; and even bricks in Fernhurst – to name just a few examples.

Cllr Penny Plant, cabinet member for the environment at Chichester District Council, said: “Flytipping is unacceptable. We want to encourage residents and businesses to join with us in our fight against this crime, which is both unsightly and poses an environmental risk to our beautiful district. Every part of the district is affected by fly tipping and so we really need residents and businesses to work with us to try and prevent this.”

People are being told to ensure anyone they employ to remove excess household waste is licensed as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency.

Cllr Plant explained giving your waste to an unlicensed carrier can make you liable and could result in prosecution and a fine. “This is known as your ‘duty of care’, and means that whether you have finished a DIY project, been clearing out unwanted household items or have been busy sprucing up your garden, it is down to you to make sure that your waste is disposed of safely and legally.”

For more information on the campaign, read the full story at www.chichester. co.uk