September 24, 2018 4.56 pm This story is over 75 months old

Lincoln fly-tipping incidents on the rise

Why are people fly-tipping more often?

There has been a rise in the number of fly-tipping incidents recorded by the City of Lincoln Council over the last five years.

Over 1,000 incidents were recorded each year between 2013 to 2017, with all of them leading to a fixed penalty notice being issued or prosecution.

From 1,008 incidents in 2013, the number rose by over 500 to 1,636 in 2017 and there have so far been 423 for the financial year of 2018/19.

Volunteers managed to recover a huge amount of litter from the Sincil Drain., including a shopping trollies, bikes and push chairs. Photo: Nick Rawsthorne

The Lincolnite put in a Freedom of Information request to Lincolnshire councils regarding fly-tipping levels.

The city council was unable to respond to questions about particular hotspot streets or how much the council spent on clearing up the rubbish.

Number of fly-tipping incidents recorded the City of Lincoln Council:

  • 2013: 1008
  • 2014: 1197
  • 2015: 1225
  • 2016: 1036
  • 2017: 1636
  • 2018: 423 (so far this year as of response in July 2018)

According to the data all of the fly-tipping incidents recorded between 2013-2017 led to a fixed penalty notice being issued or prosecution.

In 2018 six of the 423 incidents reported, at the time the data was received, led to an FPN being issued or prosecution.

Waste dumped in Staverton Woods in Lincoln. Photo: City of Lincoln Council

Hundreds previously handed in a petition to Lincolnshire County Council to demand that the Whisby waste tip is reopened.

Many cited, in the spring of 2016, fears over an increase in fly-tipping. 

North Kesteven District Council

North Kesteven District Council was unable to give a full breakdown of the number of incidents recorded and the top streets for the highest proportion of fly-tipping for years more recent than 2013/14.

The total financial figure for all fines issued in the North Kesteven district during this period was at its highest in 2015/16 and 2016/17.

Financial figures for fines:

  • 2013/14 – £3,140
  • 2014/15 – £4,400
  • 2015/16 – £8,908
  • 2016/17 – £8,359
  • 2017/18 – £4,933

Volunteers removed almost two tonnes of litter from the River Witham in one year, while people in the city believe more needs to be done to stop others dropping litter in Lincoln.