Fly-tippers fined

Dumping a bin bag of household rubbish in a lay-by or the local woods could set perpetrators back £75. That's the firm message this week from Three Rivers District Council which has just issued its first Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to four litter louts.

One Three Rivers resident and three people who live in neighbouring areas each face a bill of up to £75 for dumping the rubbish.

The new Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005 allows councils to impose FPNs for a range of environmental crimes. The FPNs issued last week will cost the individuals £75 or £50 if they pay promptly.

The Council has invested £20,000 on camera equipment to detect people fly-tipping and dumping rubbish. Council staff have been working with monitoring equipment which captures footage and which can be used as court evidence when bringing a prosecution. The FPN provides a speedier resolution but Council officers prosecute through the courts for more serious fly-tipping.

Three Rivers Head of Environmental Protection, Karl Murdoch, said:

"Fly-tipping and littering costs money to clean up. Three Rivers District Council estimates that it costs the taxpayer £75 to clean up an average fly-tip and hundreds of them take place each year.

"The Council collects household waste every week and our recycling service allows residents to recycle most of their waste. If residents want to get rid of large bulky items like old furniture, they can either give it to a charity or ask the Council to collect it for a small charge."

The County Council operates household waste sites where all types of household waste can be recycled, and these are open 363 days a year. There is no need to dump rubbish.

The Council has the right to keep the income it receives from the FPNs and this can go towards the clean-up costs. The evidence which the Council collects is permissible as court evidence and the Council will prosecute those who re-offend, or who fly-tip large amounts of waste or waste of a difficult nature. Anyone prosecuted could face a fine of up to £50,000 and even a jail term. Vehicles used for fly-tipping can also be seized and destroyed.

Protecting the environment is one of the District Council's priorities. Residents can contact the District Council for information about waste sites, refuse and recycling 01923 776611 (minicom 01923 727 303).