Stronger action needed to combat scourge of fly-tipping, says CLA

Stronger action needed to combat scourge of fly-tipping

Farmers and landowners are calling for stronger enforcement of legal action to help prevent an increase in fly-tipping which is blighting the countryside.

Figures released by Defra show incidents of waste dumped illegally on which have been reported to and cleared by local authorities have increased by 4% but action taken against the culprits has fallen by 4%.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, says the figures do not reflect the true scale of the crime because increasing reports of fly-tipping on private rural land are not included.

CLA Director North Miss Dorothy Fairburn said: “These figures do not tell the full story of this disgraceful behaviour which blights our beautiful countryside. Local authorities tend not to get involved with clearing incidences of fly-tipped waste from private land leaving the landowner to clean up and foot the bill.

“Our members have reported a big increase in fly-tipping on their land. It’s not just the odd bin bag but large household items from unwanted sofas to broken washing machines, building materials and even asbestos being dumped across our countryside.

“Farmers and landowners are forced to clear up somebody else’s rubbish or they risk prosecution for illegal storage of waste. This is simply not right or fair.

“Only when people see evidence of local authorities taking stronger action to combat the scourge of fly-tipping can we hope to see a reversal in this worrying trend.

“The estimated average cost to rural businesses of this anti-social behaviour is £800 per incident and is a continuing and damaging blight on our countryside. In addition, landowners are liable for any waste that is fly-tipped on their land and can be prosecuted if they do not clear it away, often at considerable cost to their business.

“Last year, we welcomed new government regulations which enable local councils to issue fixed penalty notices or fines of up to £400 for small scale fly-tipping, but this is not enough. We support the LGA’s call for a speedier and more effective legal system to deal with offenders more robustly, and urge councils to exercise their powers in prosecuting fly tippers.

“The maximum fine is £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a Magistrates' Court, but this is never enforced. If it was, it might deter fly-tippers. Frequently, it costs more to bring an offender to court than the penalty actually imposed.”

The CLA has called on local authorities, the Environment Agency and the police force to commit to stronger action against the increase of fly-tipping on private land by:

1. Extending the local government zero tolerance approach to fly-tipping over the festive period into a year-round initiative.
2. Ensuring powers to issue fixed penalty notices and/or seize vehicles are used.
3. Imposing and enforcing stronger penalties to act as a deterrent
4. Investing time and resources tracking down the culprits.

Reducing council fees to legally dispose of waste.

The CLA says farmers and landowners can go some way to preventing fly-tipped waste on their land by ensuring gates to fields are locked, opening up concealed entrances so they more visible to passersby, using CCTV in black spots and reporting all instances to the local police force.