Manchester has been officially named the UK’s “fly-tipping fine capital”, after handing out over £130,000 in fines — more penalties than any other council in the country.
According to research conducted by Waste Managed, the UK’s leading waste management company, using data from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Manchester City Council handed out a record-breaking 333 fines, totalling £132,324.
Waste Managed suggests public behaviour is a common culprit; a poll of 2,000 individuals revealed that 1 in 6 admit to unknowingly fly-tipping.
Over 21 per cent accused local residents of illegally dumping household waste in their area.
Kelvin Croney, Group Chief Commercial Officer for Waste Managed, said: “Our findings show that lack of awareness is a real driver for fly-tipping. Part of the solution to the problem is simple: verify who handles your waste.”
He advocated the use of accredited and reliable waste carriers, discouraging households from resorting to ‘man with a van’ services.
Individuals should make sure that collectors are licensed and following safe disposal practices that protect the environment.
Manchester’s fines totalled more than double those given out by Kingston-upon-Hull who, placing second, handed out £63,548 worth of penalties.
In total, North West councils handed out £218,831 in fines, far surpassing any other English region.
These statistics demonstrate sharp contrasts amongst councils and their responses to fly-tipping, with some councils taking hard line approaches where others allow offenders to slip under the radar.
Research from Keep Britain Tidy, one of the UK’s leading environmental charities, estimates that fly-tipping costs the UK up to £150 million annually.
The charity’s research suggests that, in spite of hefty fines awarded by councils such as Manchester City Council, financial penalties imposed on individuals cover only a fraction of the reported financial cost of fly-tipping.
In order to further combat the epidemic, the government has now introduced a Waste Crime Action Plan, alongside prosecuting fly-tippers and enforcing fines.
The new initiative will enable councils to issue conditional cautions and force fly-tippers to join “clean up squads”, completing 20 hours of unpaid work at dump sites and thus bypassing the need for court proceedings.
Mr Croney said the new proposal was a step forward, but emphasised that the problem won’t be solved overnight.
He advocates stronger regulation combined with greater awareness among businesses and residents.
He said: “It is only through a collective effort that we will really see the issue addressed.”
To read the full study, and for further information on responsible refuse disposal, visit www.wastemanaged.co.uk.
Featured image by Ariungoo Batzorig on Unsplash
