Fly tipping and pollution
Council frustrated in its efforts to tackle fly-tipping hotspots
Published on
Efforts to tackle areas blighted by fly-tipping have been undermined only 24 hours after Walsall Council took action to clean up a fly-tipping hotspot.
Dalkeith Street in Birchills has been the focal point of persistent fly-tipping and waste accumulations. The source of the issue has been a number of charity clothing bins, with waste building up and frequent fly-tipping.
Community protection notices were served on the landowner earlier in the year to try to resolve the situation but it has remained a serious issue.
Last Friday, the clothing bins and waste were removed from the site with a temporary fence installed to prevent further fly-tipping in the gateway area. This cost will be charged back to the landowner, and the clothing bins safely stored for the charity to collect.
However, 24 hours after the clean-up fly-tippers returned and dumped a mattress and piles of black bin bags full of waste.
Another fly-tipping hotspot in Victoria Street in Willenhall has suffered the same experience.
“ After a superb effort by the council to clean up hotspot areas and address the issue, the fly-tipping menace persists. To our dismay, discarded rubbish has been dumped once again. There’s simply no excuse for this and we know it’s a small minority of people who continue to dump their waste. It’s infuriating that an irresponsible few are letting down the rest of their community.
Everyone - residents, landlords and businesses - has responsibilities when it comes to disposing of their waste. Valuable council resources are being used on clean-up operations and every pound spent on responding to these blights is £1 less that we have to spend on the services our residents need.
If residents see fly-tipping, please report it to the council and be reassured that we will take action to help protect our communities. We don’t tolerate fly-tipping and we do everything possible to track down and charge offenders. We will not give up in our drive to tackle these hotspots and we have further work planned next week as we strive to change behaviour and clean up our borough.
I’d also like to thank the team for cleaning up areas that have blighted the borough. “
Residents can report fly-tipping quickly and easily on the council website or by calling 01922 653355.
Before and after photographs of the fly-tipping area are available.
Notes to Editor
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The fly-tipping of controlled waste is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £20,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court) or an offender can even be sent to prison.
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Cleaning up and legally disposing of fly-tipped waste in the borough of Walsall costs around £500,000 per year - money from the public purse which could instead be spent on other valued services.
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There are two household waste and recycling centres in the borough of Walsall which are free to use by residents.
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The council offers an extremely competitive bulky items collection service for residents who may struggle to take larger items to a household waste and recycling centre.
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Residents who are struggling to manage their household waste, for example because of a growing family or an ongoing medical condition, can apply for a larger bin.
