Borough council data shows fly-tipping has gone down in West Norfolk

Fly-tipping has decreased by 3.5 per cent in West Norfolk despite controversial recycling centre fees being introduced in April, 2018.

Since the beginning of that month up to the end of March, 2019, there have been a total of 1,460 cases of fly-tipping being cleared up by the borough council.

This is in contrast with 1,512 instances of fly-tipping between April, 2017 and the end of March 2018.

However, the average clear time has increased by 36 per cent for the past year compared to 2017/18.

The data, which was obtained by a Lynn News Freedom of Information request to the borough council, shows the number of offences increased from 116 in February to 140 in March this year.

There have also been 2,205 reports of fly-tipping from April, 2018 until the end of March, 2019 compared to 2,357 reports for the previous year.

Since April 1, 2018, visitors to the county’s tips have been faced with charges for items such as rubble, timber, plasterboard and sheets of glass.

Fears were expressed ahead of the move that it could increase fly-tipping across the county, with many anticipating a new-found reluctance to dispose of waste properly.

At the end of January, Norfolk County Council – along with the county’s seven districts and numerous other agencies such as the police – launched the SCRAP campaign to encourage people to correctly dispose of their waste.

James Wilson, chairman of the Norfolk Waste Enforcement Group, said: “Any fly-tipping that contains evidence of where it has come from will be investigated by the local council and those found to be fly-tipping will be prosecuted.

“The campaign reminds householders and businesses that their waste is their responsibility and they could be held responsible if it is found fly-tipped and they haven’t undertaken the right checks by following the SCRAP code.”