Notts Authorities and Government Organisations Work Together To Catch Fly-Tippers

Local councils and authorities are now working together to try and combat fly-tipping, by sharing data from police forces, the Environment Agency and Highways England.

Newark and Sherwood District Council deals with around 1,300 incidents of fly-tipping a year – approximately four a day - with clean-up costs running into the tens of thousands of pounds. Fly-tipping is a crime which carries a possible fine of up to £50,000.

The Cleaner Nottinghamshire Group is made up of all Nottinghamshire local authorities, Nottinghamshire Police, Highways England, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency and was launched this week.

Using a police system, agencies are able to share data around illegal waste carriers, vehicles used in fly-tipping offences and perpetrators of waste crime.

Councillor David Lloyd, district council leader, said: “Fly-tipping is an illegal, ugly, hazardous blight on the environment which is tarnishing landscapes across Newark and Sherwood.

“We are continuing to invest time and resources into tackling this crime as part of our Cleaner, Safer and Greener initiative and we are actively pursuing perpetrators. I welcome this partnership with the police and other councils to strengthen our links across district and county borders in dealing with fly-tipping and I hope it will make a positive difference.”

The Cleaner Nottinghamshire Group Logo

Newark and Sherwood District Council asked the public to reduce their possible involvement in fly-tipping by only using licensed waste carriers or brokers.

Waste carrier licences are a legal requirement for those who collect, carry, buy, sell or dispose of waste. It is a criminal offence to carry out activity of such nature without a licence. ‘Tip Run’ services, which are often advertised on social media sides and are offered very cheaply may mean rubbish is disposed of illegally.

NSDC warns that those who use these collection services are just as liable as those who abandoned the waste and are therefore inadvertently contributing to the surge in dumped waste in the district. 

You can check who can legally take away bulky waste on the Environment Agency website: https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers  

The district council is also highlighting the importance of evidence being provided by the public. A fly-tipper in Blidworth was recently fined £200 after a local resident caught the crime in action on their mobile phone and passed the footage to the council.

If you witness someone flytipping please leave the evidence where it is and report it to the council at http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/transactions/report/ or call 01636 650000 as soon as possible. Please make a note of any vehicle registrations and any other identifying evidence.