Leading councillors welcome calls for tougher sentences on flytippers

Leading councillors on Basildon Council have welcomed calls for tougher sentences and more government funding to tackle flytipping.

According to Local Government Association (LGA) figures, the number of reported incidents has increased by 40% in the last six years with a growth in the criminal market.

Last week Basildon Council launched its “We’re Cleaning Up” flytipping and littering campaign across the borough with community litter picks in Vange and Wickford.

Two of the campaign’s aims include reducing levels of flytipping and highlighting enforcement action the council is taking.

Leader of Basildon Council Councillor Gavin Callaghan said:

“These statistics are a stark reminder of the impact environmental crime has on our towns, villages and countryside and we’re not standing for it any longer. We’ve carried out more than 3,600 flytipping removal jobs in the last year costing taxpayers £70,000. We will continue to take a hard line on those who think it’s acceptable to flytip our borough by pressing ahead with prosecutions where we have evidence.”

Chair of the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee Councillor David Harrison is encouraging residents to book a special collection or ensure those who take rubbish away are licensed waste carriers.

He added:

“Dumped rubbish causes a blight on our communities and we are committed to doing all we can to crack down on those who use our borough as a dumping ground.

“If you use a trader to remove your waste ask to see their waste carrier registration number issued by the Environment Agency. It is illegal for them to take your waste if they don’t have a permit.”

Check credentials and vehicle details here.

For more information about the council’s “We’re Cleaning Up” campaign visit www.basildon.gov.uk/cleaning-up