Crawley’s £1.3m fly-tipping bill revealed as council investigates 108 cases
Clearing up after fly-tippers has cost Crawley Borough Council more than £1m in the space of a year, councillors have been told.
The new was shared during a meeting of the full council by Julian Charatan, cabinet member for public protection, who also reported that 108 incidents had been investigated in the last six months.
Mr Charatan said: “Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime. It blights our neighbourhoods, damages the environment, harms wildlife, and places a significant financial burden on local taxpayers.
“Last year alone, the council spent about £1.3m clearing illegally dumped waste from across the borough. That’s money that could otherwise have been invested in local services, public spaces and community facilities, including play areas.”
The council supported Keep Britain Tidy’s Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight national campaign, which highlighted the impact that illegally dumped waste could have on parks and woodlands, footpaths and open spaces.
It also reminded people of the simple steps they can take to protect themselves – such as making sure they only use licensed waste carriers and don’t get fooled by cheap offers.
By law, it is the householder who is responsible for making sure their waste is disposed of safely and legally. Failing to do so could prove costly.
Mr Charatan said: “I’ve got to say that the vast majority of residents dispose of their waste responsibly and take pride in keeping Crawley clean. It’s simply not fair that the actions of a small minority create costs and problems for everyone else.”
In September, the council successfully prosecuted a rogue waste carrier for fly-tipping after waste was dumped in a council-owned garage block, in Martyrs Avenue. He was ordered to pay £588.
Mr Charatan said: “I would like to thank residents who report incidents and help identify those responsible. By working together, we can protect our environment and wildlife and keep Crawley clean and welcoming for everyone.”
Residents can help by:
- disposing of household waste responsibly
- checking that anyone they pay to remove waste is a licensed waste carrier
- keeping records of any waste transfer
- reporting fly-tipping incidents to the council.
To find out more about waste disposal services and how to report fly-tipping, log on to the council’swebsite.