Easter campaign targets fly-tipping

Farmers and landowners are often left to clear up fly-tipped rubbish

The CLA in the North is calling for action on fly-tipping as farmers and landowners throughout the region gear up to clear piles of waste dumped in their gateways, fields and hedges over the Easter weekend.

As the traditional time for DIY, gardening and spring cleaning approaches, the Association is renewing its campaign for tougher action against those who illegally dump waste.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “Fly-tipping happens all year round but it hits a peak at this time of year. It is staggering that so many people think it is acceptable to dump their waste in the countryside rather than at a recycling centre.

“CLA members frequently have to dispose of anything from black sacks to furniture, televisions, garden waste and piles of rubble.”

According to Miss Fairburn, the DIY season brings its particular problems as most recycling centres have limitations on the amount of waste that can be dumped free of charge.

“Obviously it is very tempting to take what you can for disposal and then dump the rest in the nearest hedge or gateway,” said Miss Fairburn. “But we are asking everyone who has waste to dispose of to do the right thing as it is the countryside that suffers and it is our members who have to clear up and foot the bill.”

The CLA is lobbying government to create a new ticketing scheme that would enable landowners to take fly-tipped rubbish to their local tip free of charge.

Miss Fairburn added: “The CLA’s action plan to tackle environmental crime calls for the Government to ensure local authorities can accept fly-tipped waste without charge to landowners as well as an end to the prosecution of landowners who have waste dumped on their land and have to pay to remove it.”

New guidelines from the Sentencing Council, urging magistrates to make more use of the highest levels of fines for fly-tipping cases, are due to come in to force from 1 July.

The CLA is seeking evidence of fly-tipping that has taken place on private land in the north. Farmers and landowners should send photographs of the result, with details of date, location and any further information to: north@cla.org.uk once the crime has been reported to the police.