Posted on 25th July 2016 by Hintons
Fly tipping has become an epidemic in recent years, with many choosing to dump their waste illegally rather than adopting an authorised, licenced method. Here, we will discuss the rise in recent cases of fly tipping across Britain, as well as taking a look into the measures that have been put in place to try and combat this growing problem.
What is fly tipping?
Both rural and urban areas are falling victim to fly-tippers who are dumping their waste in countrysides and streets rather than disposing of it properly. There have been a number of well-publicised incidents recently where people have been caught littering residential streets and country parks with their now unwanted belongings.
Fly tipping statistics for England have shown that councils had to deal with 900,000 fly tipping incidents in 2014/15, which was an increase of nearly 50,000 from the previous year. In turn, the cost for taxpayers to clear up all of the dumped waste has escalated from £45 million in 2013/14 to nearly £50 million last year.
What are the consequences of fly tipping?
Previously, the only way councils could tackle fly tippers was to take the suspects to court which proved to be very costly and time-consuming. From May this year, a fixed penalty notice was introduced, so local authorities could tackle small-scale fly tipping offences by issuing fines between £150 and £400.
For repeat offenders or cases where fly tippers are illegally dumping large quantities of waste, the punishment is more severe:
- If convicted in a Magistrates’ Court, offenders will face a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment
- If convicted in a Crown Court, offenders can face an unlimited fine and up to 5 years imprisonment
And the financial implications of fly tipping do not stop there; in addition to their fine, those caught will also have to pay a hefty price in legal costs and compensation.
How do I avoid accidentally fly tipping?
More often than not, people who fly tip are doing so with the intention of defying the law to dispose of their unwanted waste. However, there are some cases where a person has paid someone to take their waste away for them, not realising that the responsibility of where the waste ends up actually lies with them.
As such, it’s imperative to check whether the contractor you are using has a Waste Carrier Licence, as if they are not licence holders and the waste is fly tipped, you could face a fine of up to £5,000.
Hinton’s Waste
As Waste Carrier Licence holders, here at Hinton’s Waste you can rest assured knowing that you are working with legitimate and authorised professionals. We offer tipper hire throughout London, Croydon, Sutton and surrounding areas, transporting your waste safely and efficiently whilst adhering to all legislation. For further information or advice about any of our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team today.