£40k fine alert if you pay to dump your junk
Recycling centres closing is no excuse
Residents in Perth and Kinross have been warned they could face a fine of £40,000 if they pay someone to dispose of waste that is later illegally dumped.
They are also being told the closure of the region’s nine recycling centres is no excuse for fly-tipping.
The PA reported earlier this month about concerns of an increase in fly-tipping during the coronavirus lockdown.
It is thought that, with the centres shut, residents are dumping their rubbish, or even paying dodgy firms to dispose of it for them.
In a social media post this week, the local authority said: “If a business offers to take away your excess household waste for £20, ask yourself ‘where will it end up?’.
“Every council-owned recycling centre in Scotland is currently closed.
“It is your waste, therefore your responsibility to ensure it is being legally disposed of.
“If your waste is fly-tipped by a business, you are still liable and could receive a fine of up to £40,000. “Fly-tip and you risk a fine.
“You endanger wildlife, livestock and pets.
“You damage the environment. “You put overstretched council staff at risk.
“Store your excess waste until the recycling centres reopen to dispose of your waste legally and responsibly.”
Clarifying the issue in a further post on Tuesday, PKC said it has shut recycling centres as it is “following and implementing government guidance that discourages non-essential travel and asks us all to stay at home,” and that going to a recycling centre is not deemed essential.
The authority says its focus is on kerbside collections and staff have been redeployed from recycling centres to support critical frontline services.
Because of the amount of waste being collected, routes are taking longer.
Residents keen to use the lockdown to start DIY projects are being told to store waste they cannot dispose of or use a private waste management company offering domestic skip hire.
The council is also warning that recycling centres take a range of materials and some of its contractors that take these materials are not operating.
The post adds: “Closing the sites does not make fly-tipping acceptable and we need communities to be watchful and report concerns.
“We understand many of you have come to rely on the recycling centres and we’re saddened by their temporary closure.
“The government announced a further lockdown of three weeks and although we’re uncertain how long centres will remain shut, we are currently making a plan for when we can re-open.
“We promise to keep you updated as soon as the situation changes.”
Recycling points remain open across the region. To find one, go to https:// www.pkc.gov.uk/wheretorecycle.
For advice on managing your waste, visit https://www.pkc.gov.uk/ slimyourbin.