Flytipping cut by half in New Forest in a year
A crackdown on incidents has been proven to work
A crackdown on flytipping in the New Forest has seen numbers drop by 50% in the last year, compared to pre-pandemic levels.
A joint operation by Forestry England, Hampshire Police, New Forest District Council and the National Park Authority has been credited with the reduction in incidents.
They've been carrying out regular spot checks on vehicles to prevent cases of rubbish being dumped on the Forest.
CRACKDOWN STATS
- 140 vehicles stopped and checked for waste carrier licences
- 107 fixed penalty notices issued since October 2021
- Several vehicles seized for waste related offences
- 800 flytipped tyres removed
- Around 500 bags of garden waste picked up
- Truckloads of building rubble, dumped food waste, hazardous chemical waste and asbestos taken away
Charlotte Belcher, Community Manager for Forestry England said:
“Fly-tipping is not only unsightly but in a location like the New Forest it can be extremely damaging. Food and garden waste can prove fatal to wildlife and the ponies that graze here, and chemical or organic waste can cause lasting damage to wildlife and the landscape. It’s really encouraging to see that the joint action being taken is having an impact and we remain committed to working with our partners in continuing to tackle this issue.”
New Forest Heart PCSO Richard Williams, said:
“Fly tipping is a major cause for concern in the local communities, and this is why it is treated as such a high priority by our local Neighbourhood Policing Teams. Working jointly with New Forest District Council, New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England is vitally important for us in being able to tackle the core issues; whether that be warning and informing members of the public through educational programmes or taking robust enforcement action when required.
“We encourage the public to take responsibility for the disposal of their rubbish by checking and verify who they are paying to take away their waste and rubbish, and ensuring they have the correct licences to do so. Otherwise, a local resident could be on the end of a knock at their door for which they would be liable, even if they hadn’t discarded the waste themselves!
“We have really focused our attention on this issue over the last 12 months and are beginning to see a marked improvement in reducing fly tipping incidents across the Forest. We will continue to support our local partners to reduce the amount of fly tipping that is blighting the outstanding natural beauty of the New Forest.”
In one joint operation, action was taken after an area of the Forest near Stoney Cross had become a hot-spot for illegal activity and anti-social behaviour, including the illegal dumping of polluting car wrecks.
Rusting, old vehicles dumped next to the Open Forest were removed and the area made safe, with new stock-proof fencing installed in the area.
New Forest District Council also continues to respond to fly-tipping reports across the district, which over the last year have included large fly-tips of household waste from renovations, business waste, abandoned vehicles, graffiti and litter such as discarded cigarettes.
Cllr David Russell, New Forest District Council Portfolio Holder for People and Places, said:
“Our joint operations with our partners have been a crucial part of our efforts to tackle fly-tipping in the New Forest, and have allowed us to communicate the importance of this issue directly to residents and businesses operating in the district.
“Discarding any waste or litter can cause harm to animals and their habitats, and people. This can have devastating long-term consequences and we need to do everything we can to prevent it. To reduce our impact on climate change and to protect our local environment, we must have a no tolerance approach to fly-tipping. Anyone caught fly-tipping will be issued a fine, and we urge residents to contact us in confidence if they witness any incidents or suspicious activities.
“As a council, we are investing in technology, including cameras to try to detect more fly-tipping crimes, which often take place in isolated areas. Our environmental enforcement team also carry out duty of care visits to businesses to offer guidance and ensure that waste is being disposed of correctly.”
Further spot checks will be carried out throughout the next year as well, to continue the good work so far.
Steve Avery, Executive Director of the New Forest National Park Authority said:
“More than half of the New Forest National Park is designated of international value for nature conservation and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – areas which are protected because of their rare habitats and wildlife. This is a higher proportion than any other authority area in the country.
“Fly-tipping can harm the grazing animals which are so vital in shaping the landscape and maintaining rare Forest habitats. It can also block entrances and tracks, preventing daily operations in this living, working Forest.
“We all have a role to play in caring for the local environment and working together across organisations is vital to ensure the future of the Forest. Our joint actions are already helping to curb various damaging or anti-social behaviour and we’ll continue to help tackle these issues head-on.”