Fly tipping in 2009 cost local authorities in England and Wales a staggering £54.9 million

“Now that spring is just around the corner many people will take advantage of the good weather to tidy the garden and to clear out the garage or loft but be careful if you just go for the cheapest skip company for they may not ethically dispose of your rubbish. Using unlicensed skip hire companies can work out very expensive if they fly-tip your waste instead of ethically disposing of it. Ignorance of the law is no excuse should your rubbish be found and identified as being fly-tipped and can lead to you being prosecuted,” warns Mark Howard, joint managing director of Waltet – one of the regions premiere licensed waste disposal groups. Last year the amount of reported fly tipping fell by almost 14% from the previous year but clearing up fly-tipped rubbish still cost local authorities in England and Wales a staggering £54.9 million.

“Using unlicensed skip hire companies who do not ethically dispose of your waste and recycle it can cause you to be prosecuted if fly tipped. Many man and van operators are not licensed and have to take their rubbish to a licensed recycle company like Waltet’s operated by its sister company RFSF Recycling Ltd at Timsbury near Romsey so it can be ethically disposed of. In times of recession there is a great temptation for unlicensed operators to dispose of it by other means and illegally dump it.

“Fly-tipping is a growing problem that costs local authorities alone in 2009 a staggering £54.9 million a year to clear up (Fly capture data 2009). At its worst, fly tipping can lead to serious pollution of the environment and harm to human health if hazardous waste is involved. The 2005 Act raises the penalties on conviction for fly tipping crimes of all types of waste in line with hazardous waste and making “the polluter pay” by allowing Courts to order the offender to meet the costs of the enforcement and investigation, and for land to be cleared of fly tipped waste. So next time you get offered a cheap deal on a waste skip ask to see the company’s waste license or beware that your waste if unethically disposed of or dumped in open countryside may cause you to get a fine and a criminal record through no fault of your own.”

February 2011