Fly tipping costs to increase
A new report warns that additional charges to have rubbish collected will only encourage fly-tippers further


Fly-tipping, which already costs local councils over £100m a year, is only set to get worse if action is not taken, according to the Countryside Alliance (CA).
Nearly 2.5 million incidents of illegal fly-tipping took place in year up until April 2006, the CA has learned, which cost over £100m to pick up, but resulted in only 100 prosecutions.
Details revealed by the Freedom of Information Act include the facts that there is an incident of fly-tipping every twelve seconds in the UK, and these crimes cost the public £72 a minute.
The CA's Chief Executive, Simon Hart, said: 'Many people believe that fly-tipping is something they can get away with and that the victim is faceless. This is nonsense.
'If you fly-tip on private land the owner gets the stress of clearing it up, and the bill: if you fly-tip on public land the taxpayer gets the bill; and in both instances people are ruining the beauty of the countryside for everyone.'
This cost is only likely to increase: this week's Budget is thought not to include a specific rubbish tax, but the Chancellor seems likely to leave councils the power to charge extra for picking up rubbish on a local level, in addition to Council Tax. Concerns are that this will only lead to an increase in fly-tipping by people who don't want to absorb the extra cost.
An opinion survey for the CA also found fly-tipping to be high on the list of concerns for rural dwellers. The group says it will launch a campaign next month to raise awareness of this growing problem.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
'We hope to generate a healthy sense of outrage across the UK because only then can we finally scrap fly-tipping,' Mr Hart continued.
-
Jnane Rumi, Marrakech, hotel review: 'The most talked about opening this year — and for good reason'
The Moroccan capital of Marrakech is the world capital of hotels, says Christopher Wallace — and Jnane Rumi is the latest string to its hospitality bow.
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.