November 17, 2014 3.07 pm This story is over 111 months old

North Kesteven council beats fly-tipping stats at a £55k cost

Stand on fly-tipping: North Kesteven District Council has recorded a successful year for fly-tipping prosecutions and only a 5% increase in incidents – a quarter of the national average.

North Kesteven District Council has recorded a successful year for fly-tipping prosecutions and only a 5% increase in incidents – a quarter of the national average.

Average statistics across England show a 20% increase in fly-tipping incidents from last year.

It cost the council £55,956 to clear incidents last year, and it says it will continue to tackle the issue.

Between October 2013 and September 2014, North Kesteven council followed through 14 prosecutions in fly-tipping having found sufficient evidence to take the perpetrators to court.

Items included animal carcasses, vehicle parts, white goods, and commercial waste, amongst others – with general household waste occupying 43% of NKDC’s collections.

70% of the districts fly-tipping incidents were found along highways, more than the national trend of 47% in places where waste had been dumped illegally.

Some 66% of fly-tips in England in 2013/14 were household waste; this was nearly 563,000 incidents, one for every 39 households in England.

Most recently locally, two men were prosecuted at Lincoln Magistrates Court for dumping household waste on land at Meadow Lane, North Scarle, bringing about a total of £940 in court costs.

Mr Jack Harmston of North Hykeham and Mr Lewis Hall of Market Rasen both appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Monday, October 27, charged with the offence of unauthorised deposit of waste on land without a waste management licence.

This is an offence contrary to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 33(1). Both pleaded guilty to the charge and apologised for their behaviour in Court.

Mr Lewis Hall was ordered to pay £640.00 in total (Fine: £400.00, Costs: £200.00 and Victim Surcharge: £40.00); Mr Harmston was ordered to pay £300.00 in total (Fine: £180.00, Costs: £100.00 and Victim Surcharge: £20.00).

The council are offering advice to people should they discover fly tipped waste:

  • Do not touch the waste: fly tipped waste can be dangerous – it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances.
  • Visually inspect the waste: try to determine what the waste consists of and how much there is.
  • Take note of its exact location: and also, whether it is in or near water.
  • Do not disturb the site: there may be evidence that could help identify the culprits and lead to their prosecution.

Janet Williams, Environmental Health Manager at North Kesteven District Council, said: “Fly-tipping is not tolerated in the district and we will continue to spread this message far and wide.

“We offer good alternatives for residents to dispose of their goods, and believe this is a huge contribution in us having figures lower than the national average.

“It cost the district council £55,965 to clear incidents last year, £29,700 of that for taking action alone. Despite this being a significant sum to the council – we are committed to catching and prosecuting those who insist on littering our district.”

Councillor Richard Wright, executive member for environmental protection added: “14 prosecutions in one year demonstrates just how committed we are to protecting our district from those who illegally and maliciously dump waste, which last year cost the North Kesteven taxpayer just under £60,000 to clear up, the Council will take robust action. We will investigate and we will prosecute.”