“Clearing up fly-tipping costs councils more than £57 million a year – money that could be spent on other services, like caring for the elderly, protecting children or tackling homelessness."
Responding to the announcement by the Government of new powers to tackle illegal waste and fly-tipping, Cllr Martin Tett, the Local Government Association’s Environment spokesman, said:
“We are pleased the Government has pledged to crack down on illegal waste and fly-tipping.
“Clearing up fly-tipping costs councils more than £57 million a year – money that could be spent on other services, like caring for the elderly, protecting children or tackling homelessness. It is unacceptable that they are having to spend vast amounts each year tackling this scourge.
“Councils warn households to only use reputable operators who can prove they dispose of rubbish responsibly. This follows a significant rise in the so-called ‘man with van’ phenomenon, where cold callers offer to ‘dispose’ of unwanted household goods like fridges, mattresses, and furniture for cash, which are then fly-tipped.
“Councils will continue to work with residents to raise awareness of how to correctly dispose of household waste.
“We were pleased the Government responded to our call for councils to be able to apply Fixed Penalty Notices to fly-tippers – and this was a big step in the right direction.
“But when they take offenders to court, councils need a faster and more effective legal system which means fly-tippers are given hard-hitting fines for more serious offences.
“The Government should also consider asking manufacturers to provide more take-back services so people can hand in old furniture and mattresses when they buy new ones.”