The toxic legacy of selfish fly-tippers
I AGree that fly-tipping has increased (Mail) and if we are not careful, the country will become a huge dump. For the past ten years, I’ve been reporting fly-tipping in residential areas to the local council. There is no excuse for dumping filthy mattresses, sofas, nappies and broken bottles in alleyways. In 2019, Oldham Council spent £600,000 on fly-tipping; this year’s budget is £1.29 million. Vast sums should not have to be spent because selfish people fail to dispose of their rubbish correctly. When a resident’s yard or garden resembles a scrapyard, the council must take action immediately. However, if they inspect the property and there isn’t any toxic waste, they won’t do anything. In some areas where the rubbish has been embedded in the ground, the council has to use a digger to remove it. It’s time for councils to get tough and target dodgy tradesman who fail to dispose of their waste correctly. We need clean-up campaigns by local residents and for children to be educated not to drop litter. We must put the message across that you should take responsibility and not expect others to deal with your rubbish, otherwise you could face a harsh penalty. If councils didn’t have to spend millions on dealing with fly-tipping, this money could be spent on adult social care and children’s services.
LYNDA NAYLOR, Oldham, Gtr Manchester. IT’s not rocket science why fly-tipping is on the increase. This was bound to happen once local authorities imposed financial charges at waste depots. Local residents pay exorbitant council taxes, load rubbish into the boot of their cars, transport it at their own cost to the council tip and dispose of it. And they are expected to pay another charge for the privilege of doing all this.
P. A. FELTHAM, Epsom, Surrey. NOT charging contractors to take their rubbish to the council tip would surely mean they would do so, saving the cost of clearing up fly-tipping.
DENIS PITCHER, Northampton. FINes certainly do not fit the crime of fly-tipping and do not deter criminals, who treat them as an occupational hazard. Fly-tippers’ vehicles should be seized and crushed. A heavy fine would make them think twice about committing this crime again. The litter on motorway slip roads is horrendous due to drivers throwing food boxes, plastic cups and bottles out of their windows. CCTV cameras should be used to identify the litterers as well as speeding motorists.
JOHN HANCOCK, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. FLY-TIPPING and the cost to the taxpayer to remove this rubbish have reached unacceptable levels. Has it not occurred to councils that this problem worsened when restrictions and charges were brought in for the disposal of non-household rubbish? The answer could be to make it free to dump this litter at council tips. I am sure the difference in costs would be worthwhile and our farmers and the countryside would benefit enormously.
HAYDN WILLIAMS, Conwy. DON’T blame local authorities for not pursuing fly-tippers. The fault lies with the magistrates who dish out derisory fines to those found guilty. The maximum penalty can be thousands or a prison sentence, but the average fine in 2019/20 was just £438. It must cost the councils a lot to gather the evidence, so what happens if there is a successful prosecution? A fine that encourages the fly-tippers to continue!