Thinking of fly-tipping in Waverley? Think again, is the message from Waverley Borough Council, as cases of environmental crime rise in the borough.
Between April 2021 and March 2022 there were a reported 755 incidents of fly-tipping, 258 instances of littering and 183 abandoned vehicles, 9 of which had to be scrapped: costing taxpayers in Waverley an eyewatering £500,000 a year in waste removal clearance.
To combat the rise in environmental crime, Waverley Borough Council is cracking down on the perpetrators by implementing preventative measures such as additional CCTV usage and is increasing investment in its Environment Enforcement team.
The council are also taking a “Zero-tolerance approach” and are committed to investigate, clear and where possible prosecute every case, issuing fixed penalty notices of up to £400 where applicable. It is up to the council’s discretion whether to prosecute through the courts where fines of up to £50,000 (unlimited in the Crown Court) can be imposed or even a custodial sentence.
Waverley Borough Council's Head of Environmental and Regulatory Services, Richard Homewood said “Our key focus is ensuring our residents have a wide range of options available to them to dispose of their waste legally. Where individuals choose to ignore these resources, we have a zero-tolerance approach; our team of enforcement officers will investigate every instance of unlawful disposal of waste and issue fixed penalty notices swiftly.
“However, we are also calling on our residents to help. I strongly urge anyone who sees someone dumping rubbish to please get in touch with us, either online or by calling our team and reporting it. Waverley is one of the cleanest and greenest boroughs in England and we believe that with your help the measures we are taking will help ensure that it stays that way.”
Seen any incidents of fly-tipping? Visit Waverley Borough Council’s dedicated page to Report fly-tipping or dumped rubbish. Or call 01483 523524.
If residents would like to have their bulky waste collected, they can visit the council’s Bulky waste collections webpage.
For weekly updates on waste and recycling in Waverley keep an eye out on the Waverley Borough Council - Latest news webpage or follow us on our social media channels.