CCTV cameras are being used in the fightback against fly-tipping in south Warwickshire.
They have been set up for all to see in hot-spot locations in a bid to deter and catch the culprits following a rise in illegally dumping during lockdown.
Stratford District Council’s rural crime advisors Bob Church and Baz Bains have been working with Warwickshire Police and the Environment Agency to tackle the growing problem.
Before and during the lockdown some residents have turned to waste carriers to remove unwanted rubbish from their homes.
But unscrupulous operators have simply dumping waste in rural locations, often at the roadside or on areas of private land, rather than disposing of it properly.
Mr Church said: “Fly-tipping has become a serious cause of concern in our rural areas and communities, so we have been using innovative new ways to deter and disrupt people from dumping waste, including using CCTV cameras at hot-spot locations throughout south Warwickshire.
“This has had a marked effect in the areas we have trialled it, with a reduction in offending of around 70 per cent. We would like to see that figure rise over the next 12 months.”
“The scale of fly-tipping ranges from people leaving old electrical items and household rubbish on the roadside to the dumping of commercial waste by unauthorised waste carriers.
“In one recent case an individual who opted not to take their old fridge freezer to the local tip wound up with a £300 fine after being caught by our cameras dumping it on the roadside.
“At the other end of the scale we are investigating more widespread commercial dumping and we have ongoing investigations into a number of individuals some of which are being conducted with neighbouring local authorities.”
Few people are aware they have a legal duty to give rubbish to an authorised waste carrier and failing to do so can leave them open to prosecution if their rubbish is found to be fly-tipped.
Mr Bains added: “I would always recommend withholding payment for waste collection and disposal until you have been provided with evidence that your waste has been disposed of legally.
“I would also recommend that you obtain a receipt for any rubbish you pass on which details exactly what waste has been collected and the waste carrier’s registration certificate number.“
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe, who funds the Rural Crime Adviser posts, was pleased to see the cameras had already helped reduce the number offences. He added: “By placing more cameras in the community, I hope we can have an even bigger impact and really signpost our intention to stamp this practice out.
“I’d also urge all businesses and households to follow the advice when looking to dispose of any waste. In this way we can all work towards eradicating fly tipping and deterring unlicensed individuals from operating within our county.”
For details of waste and recycling options in Stratford district visit www.stratford.gov.uk/waste-recycling and in Warwick district www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20465/rubbish_waste_and_recycling
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/recycling to book a slot (essential visits only) at a larger household waste recycling centre in Warwickshire.
