Fly tipping – a growing problem
What is fly tipping?
Fly tipping is defined as “the illegal deposit of any waste on to land that does not have a licence to accept it”, according to Keep Britain Tidy.
Fly tipping has become an epidemic in recent years, with many choosing to dump their waste illegally rather than adopting an authorised, licenced method. Sadly, most of us need only drive a few miles to see waste that has been fly tipped and the impact of this activity can be deadly.
As well as being a visual eyesore in our beautiful countryside, the effects on wildlife can be hazardous and there is a huge cost to councils (and therefore tax payers) for clearing the waste away. In 2016-17 the cost for clearing up fly tipped waste was £57.7m and a further £16.9m was spent prosecuting individuals caught doing the crime.
Why is fly tipping on the up?
In recent years, many councils have implemented charges for taking some types of waste to the tip (for example, building rubble, hardcore and plaster). In addition, some tips have been closed down meaning people have to travel further to dispose of their waste.
Worryingly, there are some unscrupulous companies out there who will take your rubbish away but fly tip it instead of disposing of it properly.
How can you avoid accidentally fly tipping?
More often than not, people who fly tip are doing so with the intention of breaking the law to dispose of their unwanted waste. However, there are some cases where a person has paid someone to take their waste away for them, not realising that the responsibility of where the waste ends up actually lies with them.
As such, it’s imperative to check whether the contractor you are using has a Waste Carrier Licence, as if they are not licence holders and the waste is fly tipped, you could face a fine of up to £5,000.
Hawes Skip Hire
As Waste Carrier Licence holders, here at Hawes you can rest assured knowing that you are working with legitimate and authorised professionals. We are passionate about recycling waste and reducing the amount that goes to landfill.
All of the waste we collect in our skips is recycled at our purpose-built state-of-the-art recycling facility at our head office in High Wycombe.
We have invested £3m in our recycling facility and we are proudly committed to diverting 100% of waste from landfill. We have been approved by Bucks County Council and licenced by the Environment Agency so rest assured we are a company you can trust.
Be sure to keep up to date with all the latest news from Hawes Group. Alternatively, view our homepage, find out more about Hawes Group, book skip hire online, or visit the site of our sister company, Hawes Plant & Tool Hire, for all your plant & tool hire needs throughout Bucks, Herts, Middlesex, Surrey & Oxfordshire.