£50m a year spent on fly-tipping

New figures show that councils will have to spend £50 million to clear litter, as incidents of fly-tipping continue to increase.

The figures, published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, reveal that councils in the UK had to deal with 936,000 fly-tipping incidents in last year, an increase of four per cent from the previous year, with a 6.5 per cent increase in fly-tipping involving household waste.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has said that the vast amounts that local authorities are having to spend on tackling litter and fly-tipping would be ‘better spent on vital front line services’.

Cllr Judith Blake, environment spokesperson for the LGA, said: “The government has responded to our call for councils to be able to apply Fixed Penalty Notices for small scale fly-tipping – and this is a big step in the right direction.

“We need a new streamlined system which helps councils - one that is nimble, flexible and effective. Not only does fly-tipping create an eyesore for residents, it is also a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.”