Council spends 20 times more on investigating fly-tipping than fines handed out
Fridges fly-tipped on a public bridleway next to woods not far from Dunston Hall in South Norfolk. Picture: Archant
South Norfolk Council has spent 20 times more over the past seven years on investigating fly-tipping than the cost of fines given to offenders.
A lorry load of waste weighing just under one tonne discovered in Hempnall. Picture: Archant
From 2012 to 2019 the council investigated 818 instances of fly-tipping out of a total of 5,828 across the borough.
The cost of these investigations came to £12,177 not including the cost of clearance which is £239,001.
Despite the high costs south Norfolk has fewer cases of fly-tipping in 2019 compared to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 1,460, Norwich, 5,290, and Great Yarmouth, 1,460, with South Norfolk having 888.
South Norfolk Council said the largest factor contributing to the fly-tipping figures is residents giving their waste to unlicensed carriers.
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A spokesman said: "South Norfolk has relatively low levels of fly-tipping compared to other parts of the country.
"We have a proactive approach to this issue and continue to work with the all local authorities across Norfolk to highlight the criminal and antisocial impacts of fly-tipping.
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"The biggest issue we have in Norfolk is people giving their waste to unlicensed carriers which then ends up being fly-tipped.
"The SCRAP code urges everyone to check the person taking their waste has a licence, to get paperwork as evidence and to refuse any unsolicited offers they receive to dispose of their items."
Two Norfolk councils have been criticised for granting directors five more days annual leave than staff. Picture: South Norfolk Council - Credit: Archant
The borough is encouraging communities to form litter picking groups which can prevent intervention from the council in terms of low waste fly-tipping.
In 2019 there were 445 small van loads found and just 11 black rubbish bag incidents.
The spokesman added: "We are very pleased to work with our local communities in keeping the district free of litter with our annual 'Big Community Litter Pick'.
"This has grown year on year with around 100 picks and groups involved in the last year."
Last year in South Norfolk 96 litter picks took place with more than 2,000 volunteers collecting tons of rubbish in their community.
On average 114 cases of fly-tipping are reported to councils every hour with the majority of these being household waste.
Nationally, enforcement action has cost authorities £17m.
