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| Fly-tipping discovered 2,700 times a day in England | Fly-tipping discovered 2,700 times a day in England |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Almost one million crimes of fly-tipping were reported by councils across England during 2017-18, the first fall in five years. | |
| Councils recorded 997,553 incidents of illegal dumping, an average of more than 2,700 a day. | Councils recorded 997,553 incidents of illegal dumping, an average of more than 2,700 a day. |
| It was a slight decrease on the 1,011,000 in 2016-17 and is the first time the figure has dropped since 2013. | |
| The government said two-thirds of fly-tipping involved household waste. | The government said two-thirds of fly-tipping involved household waste. |
| It did not reveal the total cost to taxpayers of clearing fly-tipped rubbish, saying the estimates were "outdated". | It did not reveal the total cost to taxpayers of clearing fly-tipped rubbish, saying the estimates were "outdated". |
| Councils were given the power to issue on the spot fines of up to £400 to fly-tippers in 2016. | Councils were given the power to issue on the spot fines of up to £400 to fly-tippers in 2016. |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said 69,000 penalties were issued during 2017-18, a 20% rise on the previous year. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said 69,000 penalties were issued during 2017-18, a 20% rise on the previous year. |
| The government is planning to extend fines to householders who pay someone else to take their rubbish away, if it is then fly-tipped. | The government is planning to extend fines to householders who pay someone else to take their rubbish away, if it is then fly-tipped. |
| The change is expected to take effect by the end of the year but a date has not yet been set. | The change is expected to take effect by the end of the year but a date has not yet been set. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Rates of tipping varied across England. | Rates of tipping varied across England. |
| In Hammersmith and Fulham there were 18,652 incidents, equivalent to about one for every 10 people living in the London borough. | In Hammersmith and Fulham there were 18,652 incidents, equivalent to about one for every 10 people living in the London borough. |
| 'No excuse' | |
| In Birmingham, fly-tipping was up 8% on the year before.. | |
| The Alum Rock Community Forum has been advising residents of how to contact the city council and report fly-tipping, but also remove bags of rubbish and other dumped waste themselves. | |
| Javed Iqbal from Bordesley Green chairs the forum and said: "This is about a lack of respect for the area and a lack of education. There's no excuse for it. | |
| "We've taken van-loads of waste to the Birmingham tips and it's easy and free. They're open every day." | |
| Father-of-three Mr Iqbal said the threat of fines was not a deterrent. | |
| "It's difficult to trace people because most people don't leave their name and address with their rubbish. Unless we empower people to take pride again, nothing will change." | |
| 'Knock on the door' | |
| Gary Palin from Crewe started a Facebook group for people to highlight fly-tipping. It now has more than 1,000 members. | |
| The 39-year-old lorry driver said he thinks councils need more powers and to be willing to use them. | |
| "There will be lots of opinions on this but I think for most people it's simply find out who's doing it and stop them," he said. | |
| "A knock on the door from a council officer and an informal chat would be enough to change their behaviour. Unfortunately some people will only learn if it hits their pocket." | |
| He also suggested councils dispose of bulky items for free for people who could not afford the charges. | |
| 'Environmental vandalism' | |
| Authorities are trying different methods to encourage people to throw away bulky waste responsibly. | |
| Walsall Council is planning to put a free skip in each of its 20 wards every Saturday. The area recorded 4,367 incidents of fly-tipping in 2017-18, a slight drop on the year before. | |
| Councillor Martin Tett from the Local Government Association said fly-tipping was "unsightly and unacceptable environmental vandalism". | Councillor Martin Tett from the Local Government Association said fly-tipping was "unsightly and unacceptable environmental vandalism". |
| "New fixed penalty notice powers from the government will help but every single conviction for more serious fly-tipping offences still results in council taxpayers having to pick up the bill," he said. | |
| "Manufacturers can also contribute, by providing more take-back services so people can hand in old furniture and mattresses when they buy new ones." | "Manufacturers can also contribute, by providing more take-back services so people can hand in old furniture and mattresses when they buy new ones." |
| A Defra spokeswoman said: "New fixed penalty notices for householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper also come into force shortly, as we continue our efforts to crack down on those who blight our landscapes." | |
| What do you want to know about fly-tipping? | What do you want to know about fly-tipping? |
| Use the form below to ask us and we could be in touch. | Use the form below to ask us and we could be in touch. |