Winning the fight against flytipping

Residents of Redcar and Cleveland have given their enthusiastic backing to a Borough-wide initiative aimed at winning the war against flytipping.

The Council’s Clean and Green team launched its BOYD – Bring Out Your Dross - scheme in April, covering the Borough’s 22 wards on a rolling programme.

With one ward to go - Coatham, starting on Monday, November 13 - staff has visited 10,444 homes, collecting a total of 247.95 tonnes of rubbish and unwanted items, including 60 gas bottles, 83 batteries, 190 tyres, 253 fridges and 399 television sets.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Improvement Councillor Bob Stanway said: “The success of the BOYD scheme and our two civic amenities has helped to bring down the reports of flytipping.

“Unfortunately those who persist in flytipping are costing the Council Tax payers of the Borough huge expense.

“But, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, we have the power to investigate flytipping and, where identities can be proved, we will prosecute."

In the 12 months between April 2005 and March this year, the Council received 4,929 reports of flytipping. In the following six months, from April to September, 2,223 incidents of flytipping were reported – leading to a predicted reduction in flytipping by up to 500 less incidents this year.

The Council faces the dilemma of sorting dumped rubbish from flytipping – a dumped black bag at the side of the road is flytipping, a dumped black bag in an alley is classed as waste collection.

Councillor Stanway said: “I would encourage residents of the Borough to take pride in the Clean and Green aspects of the environment and make more use of the facilities we already provide.

"Contrary to many reports flytipping is down in this Borough because of the pro-active approach we now take."