Local authorities across the UK are facing new directives to take a firmer stance on fly-tipping and to crack down on unlicensed waste operators. In response to a significant rise in fly-tipping incidents, the government is calling for stricter enforcement measures.
The new strategy includes the use of drones and mobile CCTV cameras to surveil and apprehend fly-tippers. Additionally, proposed measures could lead to the seizure and destruction of vehicles involved in fly-tipping, while perpetrators may face prison sentences of up to five years.
Recent data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) indicates a 20% increase in fly-tipping instances, reaching a staggering 1.15 million cases last year. The government proposes that the expenses related to seizing and storing offending vehicles should be borne by the fly-tippers themselves, rather than the councils.
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To address discrepancies in the enforcement of fly-tipping regulations, the government aims to increase overall enforcement actions. Environment Secretary Steve Reed emphasized this shift, stating, “Councils will get much more aggressive against fly-tippers and that includes using the latest technology, things like the new mobile CCTV cameras and drones to identify, track, and then seize the vehicles that are being used for fly-tipping.”
The Environment Agency will receive additional resources to oversee the industry through permits, conduct identity and criminal record checks, and improve enforcement. Chief Executive Philip Duffy highlighted the agency’s determination to bring waste criminals to justice and support the government’s crackdown on rogue waste operators.
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