Photo: SWNS

Defra secretary Michael Gove has announced a three-month review to strengthen the Government’s approach to tackling fly-tipping in England.

And the CLA (Country Landowners Association) - which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses - has welcomed the call for evidence launched to find new ways to crackdown on organised crime in the waste sector.

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime.

"The Government, local authorities and the Environment Agency must work together with farmers and landowners to help reduce fly-tipping on private rural land. It’s a vicious cycle of costly clean-ups by the victims who bear the burden of waste crime and the threat of prosecution.

“It is easy to blame householders for the significant rise in fly-tipping but we’re seeing more and more waste on an industrial scale dumped across the countryside. Part of the problem is council fees putting people off lawful disposal at the local tip but it is also businesses not complying with existing waste disposal regulations. The costs and process of getting a waste transfer licence prevents legal disposal and encourages organised crime.

“It is vital that more prosecutions are brought forward successfully to encourage people to do the right thing and dispose of their rubbish through proper legal channels. But to really combat this anti-social behaviour we need to see tougher penalties which act as a true deterrent. Imposing and enforcing penalties which better reflect the seriousness of the crime, such as seizing vehicles used to fly-tip, is crucial.”

Bulky household waste is currently not being collected by WLC. The service has been suspended according to the website cited below. No wonder fly tipping is on the increase. http://www.westlancs.gov.uk/refuse-r...old-waste.aspx

Yeah the usual tack lets throw money at prosecution rather than addressing the problem, once the council's in their wisdom decided to start to charge us to take our rubbish to the tip, (sorry recycle centers) what did they expect was going to happen, it would cost much more in clean up of fly tipping than allowing us to take it ourselves,
You can get a permit to take rubble soil and similar items 10 bags a year,wow,

Why do we let stupidity run our towns, cuts to everything except top brass wages and bonuses