New campaign targets fly-tipping in Cornwall
Don’t Rubbish Illogan is a week-long campaign
A new week long campaign is targeting fly-tipping in Cornwall.
Each year, Cornwall Council spends an estimated £250,000 clearing waste that has been fly-tipped around the Duchy.
To highlight the importance of managing waste properly, a staged fly-tip has been set up at Tehidy Country Park today.
Kevin Baker of the Environment Agency said: “It might seem counterintuitive for a campaign against waste crime to arrange for rubbish to be dumped at a beauty spot. But secluded spots in Illogan are targeted by fly-tippers up to 90 times a year. The problem may often be out of sight to many, but this is an important reminder that this sort of thing is happening and continues to have a real impact on local environments and communities.
Residents in Cornwall are being urged not to be fooled by fly-tippers and use legitimate companies to get rid of their rubbish.
Kevin added: “Everyone needs to be reminded that it doesn’t matter where rubbish gets dumped, everyone ends up picking up the cost of this happening. You would not use an unqualified tradesperson to fix your boiler or rewire your house because they might be cheaper and only accept cash. And the same applies to rubbish. Only use permitted waste carriers or run the risk of being prosecuted if your rubbish ends up fly-tipped in places like Illogan.”
The campaign has been set up and supported by the Environment Agency, Cornwall Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, Trading Standards and Biffa.
Councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for Environment and Climate Change at Cornwall Council, said: “Not only does fly-tipping cost council taxpayers a lot of money to clear up, it also ruins our beautiful countryside.
“We are all responsible for making sure our rubbish is disposed of properly, and legally. Paying someone to take it away for you is often the simplest option but make sure you choose a respectable company. You can do this by using the Buy with Confidence Scheme.”