Figures reveal a decrease in fly-tipping incidents in the Harborough district

Fly-tipped waste is discovered in Harborough once a day on average - but this is a a reduction from last year's figures.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 484 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Harborough District Council in 2019-20 – 244 fewer than the previous year.

The news follows Harborough District Council winning a highly coveted award for its ‘Tip Off’ campaign at the MRW National Recycling Awards earlier this year.

The campaign aimed to drive down fly tipping by increasing public awareness and encouraging the reporting of incidents.

Harborough District Council and FCC Environment worked together on a social media campaign and in via newsletters to raise awareness of people being fined or convicted for fly tipping in an attempt to deter others.

Cllr Jonathan Bateman, Harborough District Council’s cabinet lead for environment and waste, said: “We are extremely proud to see the rate of fly tipping go down across the district. It is a real credit to the innovative measures and work that has been undertaken by the council and FCC Environment.

“I would also like to thank the people of Harborough District for their continued support in reporting fly tipping and for continuing to dispose of their waste properly.”

FCC Environment’s contract manager, John Whitup said: “It is fantastic to see the rate of fly tipping in Harborough decrease. It is a real credit to everyone who has worked hard on the council’s ‘Tip Off’ campaign and to the residents of Harborough for their support of the initiative. At FCC Environment we are looking forward to working hard to ensure this number decreases further next year.”

Dumped waste was found on Harborough's roads and pavements 420 times accounting for 87 per cent of incidents while 32 discoveries were made on footpaths and bridleways (seven per cent).

Fly-tipped rubbish can include household waste, white goods and construction waste.

Environmental Charity Keep Britain Tidy says the crime is being driven by conmen who offer to remove household rubbish for a fee but do not dispose of it correctly.

Across England, the most common amount of rubbish dumped and reported to councils is equivalent to a small van load.

Rubbish loads of this size accounted for 34 per cent of all 976,000 fly-tipping incidents nationally last year.

Across Harborough, small van loads of waste were dumped illegally on 139 occasions – 29 per cent of all reports.

A further 39 incidents saw fly-tippers discard enough rubbish to fill a tipper lorry each, costing the council £7,093 to clear.

There were also nine incidents which required multiple loads to clear, at a cost of £10,397.

Harborough District Council took action over 539 fly-tipping offences in 2019-20.

The authority undertook 245 investigations, wrote 148 warning letters and issued 41 fixed penalty notices.

It also prosecuted one incident in court, at a cost of £966. Such action resulted in one fine, totalling £400, being handed to an offender.