Keeping up enforcement against fly-tippers and litter louts

Tuesday, 22 March 2022 00:00

By David Murphy

Fifty people have been fined since Bury Council adopted new powers last July to punish those who fly-tip and drop litter.

Extra enforcement was also carried out in a bid to crack down on those who spoil the neighbourhood and cost taxpayers money.

Over the period, environmental enforcement officers handed out 23 fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping and 27 fines for littering.

They also issued 3 fixed penalty notices to businesses who failed to ensure their waste was disposed of properly.

Fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping are £400, while littering attracts a fine of £75 and failing to produce waste transfer notes is £300.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “Everyone hates fly-tipping. Apart from making a mess of our borough, it takes resources away from other council services which local taxpayers want their money spending on - last year we spent approximately £70,000 on clearing up fly-tipping.

“The extra enforcement officers we took on have done a tremendous job in tackling those responsible for this waste, with the help of many community-minded individuals across the borough who are also doing great work in keeping our environment clean.”

Cllr Quinn reminded residents and businesses not to use unlicensed waste removal services, especially those advertised on social media offering cut-price rates.

If fly-tipped waste can be traced back to its owner, the owner can be fined even if they had acted in good faith and were not aware the waste was going to be fly-tipped. Residents should ask any waste carrier for their address and telephone number, their waste carrier licence, and ask where their waste will be taken to.

You can carry out an instant (and free) check of their credentials via the Environment Agency: https://environment.data.gov.uk/publicregister/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers”

There are 21 recycling centres in Greater Manchester where residents can take their waste free of charge for disposal. Details:

https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10838