Residents with information on fly tipping in Caerphilly county borough are being encouraged to report their concerns.
In 2008/09 there were 2195 incidents of fly tipping reported to Caerphilly County Borough Council, which cost the council a massive £167,932 to clear up.
The Council is asking members of the public to be aware of their legal duty to get rid of their waste properly and to report any instances of fly-tipping they may witness.
As it is often difficult to trace and prosecute offenders, the Council is also asking members of the public for their help in reducing the number of incidents that occur as a preventative measure against fly tipping.
A dedicated website, www.flytippingactionwales.org has been created to help this fight against fly tipping. The website provides advice to people on where and how to get rid of waste responsibly and how to find a registered waste carrier.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime which can pose a severe threat to humans and wildlife, as well as having a serious detrimental effect on our countryside.”
She continued, “We take a very tough stance on environmental issues such as fly-tipping and are committed to ensuring that the small minority who feel it is acceptable to fly tip do not get away with it.
“I am appealing to residents to contact us if they see anyone fly-tipping or spot any fly-tipped waste. By working with us to report the incident, the waste can be removed and with your help the crime can be investigated and the offenders prosecuted.”
Offenders of fly tipping can face fines of up to £50,000 and/or imprisonment.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is a member of Fly-tipping Action Wales, which is a Welsh Assembly Government sponsored initiative.
The partnership includes a range of key organisations including the 22 Local Authorities in Wales, Environment Agency Wales, Keep Wales Tidy and various other organisations.
To report fly-tipping in Caerphilly county borough please call Caerphilly StreetPride on 01443 866 566 or visit the StreetPride web pages.
