Fly Tipping Crisis

22nd May 2020

In this blog, we will look at the rise in fly tipping since 'lockdown' and the challenges we face due to the pandemic.

The Problem

Fly tipping is an unsightly and expensive problem, costing around £60million of taxpayers’ money in 2019.

Since ‘lockdown’ began, the country has witnessed the closing of ‘non-essential’ workplaces. Many Local Authority tips have been forced to close, resulting in a spike of fly tipping.

With an increased amount of people at home than usual, this has led to a rise in household waste. Resulting in added pressure on waste services. Despite a government plea, some councils have expressed they will only reopen refuse sites when protective equipment is made available for all workers – BBC.

Media articles reported a 300% increase in fly-tipping in some parts of the UK since ‘lockdown’.

Action from Local Councils

The government is working closely with councils and the waste industry to devise a plan to reopen recycling centres. A variety of Local Authorities have created rules and measures to aid the reopening of recycling centres.

Volunteers from Preston City Council have been litter picking in local areas, after the government updated social distance guidelines.

An online booking system was developed by Lancashire and Blackburn City Council to give residents a time slot for their visit to recycling centres.

A limit of three cars per site and stewards to manage traffic was enforced by Wirral Council.

Fewer types of waste being accepted is a measure in which Surrey County Council said is likely to happen when their facilities reopen.

Action

The Government and Local Authorities take fly-tipping extremely seriously, and individuals caught illegally dumping waste will be liable to a £400 fixed penalty notice – Department for Environmental, Food & Rural Affairs.

A DEFRA spokesperson stated: “Fly-tipping blights communities, spoils our countryside, and poses a risk to human health and the environment. We all have a role to play in keeping our environment clean and now more than ever people must work together to support their communities during this challenging time.”

Any individual can report a waste crime through: https://www.gov.uk/report-flytipping

Alternatively, people can check the services available to them in their local area during this time: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Our help

In partnership with our Council customers we have developed a focused range of solutions, that will catch fly tippers in the act.

• Covert Battery-Operated CCTV can be placed discreetly; camouflaged units blend into surroundings.
• Decoy CCTV is indistinguishable from real CCTV and an affordable way to deter criminals and boost security.
• CCTV signage can provide additional security as it works as a visual deterrent.