Mission launched across Wiltshire to tackle fly-tipping
A new campaign with Keep Britain Tidy is warning people to watch out for unlicensed waste collectors
People in Wiltshire are being urged to help tackle a rise in fly-tipping this November.
Across the country, it's been revealed that fly-tipping costs councils across England millions of pounds every year in clean-up costs, money that could otherwise be spent on essential local services.
The council says there has been a fourteen percent jump in reports of dumped rubbish since April, with over 1,800 incidents recorded.
A new campaign with Keep Britain Tidy is warning people to watch out for unlicensed waste collectors offering cheap deals on social media, as these often lead to illegal dumping.
Residents are being told to check waste carrier licences and get a receipt before paying anyone to remove rubbish.
Their latest campaign calls on people in Wiltshire to protect themselves and their communities from falling for a #RubbishDeal – low-cost, unlicensed services that are offered on social media by organised waste criminals.
Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight aims to shine a spotlight on rogue operators, who lure people in with cheap, often cash-only, deals, only to illegally dump household waste on streets, fields and public spaces.
The council's own Stop at Source (SAS) campaign continues to reduce fly-tipping across the county by holding householders accountable for their own duty of care when disposing of waste.
If someone is paying to have their rubbish taken away, they must take steps to ensure it is not fly-tipped – that is their duty of care.
Residents are advised to take three simple steps to avoid a #RubbishDeal:
- Ask for a waste carrier registration number
- Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register
- Get a written receipt or invoice
Wiltshire Council say their zero-tolerance approach ensures that residents understand the risks of using unlicensed collectors, particularly those who advertise waste removal services on social media.
In the last 18 months, the council’s Environmental Enforcement team have issued 21 £600 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for household waste duty of care.
'Fly-tipping has a real impact in Wiltshire'
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Fly-tipping has a real impact in Wiltshire and is a deep source of frustration. Not only is it a blight on our local environment, it also costs taxpayers thousands in clear up costs – money that could otherwise be spent on other essential council services.
“Our teams work tirelessly to tackle the problem, but we need our community’s help to stop it at source. We’re asking people to check who they pay to take rubbish away. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is and sadly it’s our residents and communities who ultimately pay the price.”
'Councils are on the frontline of the fight against fly-tipping'
Dr Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy, said “Councils are on the frontline of the fight against fly-tipping, responding day in, day out to clear dumped waste and keep our public spaces safe and clean. We know how much pressure this puts on already stretched local teams and we’re incredibly grateful to Wiltshire Council for joining forces with us for Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight.
“This campaign is about empowering residents to play their part in tackling this growing issue. By making simple checks before handing over waste and always getting a receipt, people can protect themselves from rogue traders, stop organised criminal networks in their tracks and help ensure public money is spent where it’s needed most.”
Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight will run from 10 to 23 November, with local authorities across the country joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy to highlight the scale and impact of fly-tipping, educate residents on how to protect themselves and their communities.
To check if a waste carrier is licensed, people can visit the Environment Agency website.
To find out more about how the council is tackling fly-tipping in Wiltshire and how to report fly-tipping, people should visit the local authority's website.