Recession leads to flytipping plague in Plymouth
Fly-tipping in Plymouth has leapt by almost 400 per cent in a year, according to figures released by the city council. About 8,150 illegal dumpings were reported by the council to Defra, the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, between 2007/2008 – almost four an hour in the working week, as reported by The Herald last week.
The cost to the council taxpayer was £320,000. Out of the thousands of dumpings that have taken place, just two people have been taken to court in Plymouth compared to 16 the year before.
Ian Lavill, who owns a small removal business, Already Property Services, and is registered as a waste carrier, said fly-tipping was "a disgrace on my business".
"I don't agree with fly-tipping whatsoever," Mr Lavill, of St Budeaux, said.
"However, the recession and the high costs of getting rid of waste are making the problem worse." Mr Lavill called for the cost of disposing of waste to be reduced. "There has to be a change of attitude to encourage the way people dispose of their waste."
Plymouth City Council said: "Councils have a duty to dispose of household waste but no obligation to dispose of commercial waste.
"It is the duty of the company to make sure they comply with the law. If they are moving waste around they must be registered by the Environment Agency."
Comment on this story