Council to issue increased fines for fly-tipping from August 1.
Increased fines have been approved by Telford and Wrekin Council for several environmental offences and will come into effect on 1 August.
The raft of increases includes fly-tipping, which will increase from £400 to £1,000, littering goes from £80 to £150 and graffiti and fly-posting increase from £75 to £500.
Businesses and households that fail to have a duty of care for their waste will also see the existing fine of £300 increase to £600.
This offence carries unlimited fines in court and applies to private sector businesses such as shops, offices, factories and tradespersons - electricians, builders, glaziers and plumbers etc. It also applies to public sector services such as schools, hospitals, and prisons, as well as charities and voluntary and community groups.
The council has welcomed the new powers which came about due to new legislation announced by the Government in July to tackle anti-social behaviour. Previously in Telford and Wrekin rates of fly-tipping had reduced by 40%, but since June 2022, this has started to rise again.
Despite increased investigations, more fines issued year on year increased use of CCTV and Telford and Wrekin Watch – a campaign that appeals for public help with identifying perpetrators caught on CCTV – the current rate of fly-tipping stands at an increase of 14%.
Councillor Richard Overton, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and enforcement said: “These new fines are in line with our zero-tolerance stance on environmental crime and increases the deterrent for fly-tipping which continues to blight our communities.
“We had reduced the rate of fly-tipping by 40%, but in the last year it’s going up again, despite numerous schemes to help people dispose of waste cheaply – including further discounts for people in receipt of benefits. It has cost the council more than £200,000 in clean-up costs – money that could be better spent supporting front line services .
“People who fly-tip are disrespectful to all of us and despite our best efforts, some of the worst offenders have walked away with minimal fines.
“We take a balanced approach – not everyone is issued a fine, sometimes a preventative approach is used though education, but these higher fines and court action gives us greater powers to drive down the rate of fly-tipping when needed.”
The council also urges those with unpaid fines, to settle amounts owing before the deadline. Where payment within the 28-day time frame has not been received, in line with new legislation, these cases will be progressed to court where fines can be unlimited or even end in imprisonment for cases heard at Crown Court.
In July, the Government announced, giving council’s across the country, stronger powers to enforce against forms of anti-social behaviour.
To avoid being the recipient of an FPN, householders should ensure that they only allow their waste to be removed by a licensed waste carrier (registration details can be checked on the public register).
The launch of Telford & Wrekin Watch has been a key factor in raising awareness of the problem and encouraging residents to report offenders.
You can register for updates on the latest fly-tips. The council has also set up a confidential number on 01952 388800 for people to pass on information and help catch those who thoughtlessly tip rubbish.
The council works hard to educate people about how to responsibly get rid of waste. Residents can take their domestic waste to our household recycling centres.
For bulky items, householders can book a collection and check if they are eligible for a free or discounted service.
Before getting rid of unwanted items, it’s also worth considering giving them a new lease of life, including donating good quality items to charity.
To report fly-tips in your area, the MyTelford app allows the exact location to be logged for clean-up crews to attend.
ENDS PR12278
