People often think about having a clear out on bank holidays, but do you know where your waste is actually going...?

Fly tipping: Know the facts

[Information provided by Shropshire Council, summarised by Clive Parish Council.]

Shropshire Council has issued a briefing note on Fly tipping. Access the Fly Tipping Briefing Note.

Fly tipping damages the environment, blights communities, creates health and safety hazards and places a significant financial burden on public services. Every pound spent clearing illegally dumped waste is money that could otherwise be invested in providing essential local services.

Fly tipping is a criminal offence and carries significant penalties, including:

• An unlimited fine.
• Up to five years' imprisonment.
• Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and other enforcement action.

Importantly, if your waste is fly tipped by someone acting on your behalf, you may still be held responsible if you failed to take reasonable steps to ensure it was disposed of legally.

Reporting Fly Tipping

Members of the public are encouraged to report fly tipping using FixMyStreet. Prompt reporting helps ensure incidents are addressed quickly and effectively and protects local communities.

Understanding Your Household Duty of Care

Every resident has a legal Household Duty of Care for the waste they produce. A resident could receive a £600 Fixed Penalty Notice if they:

• Fail to check that a waste carrier is registered with the Environment Agency.
• Cannot demonstrate what happened to their waste.
• Allow waste to be removed without taking reasonable precautions.

Common Situations That Can Lead to Fly-Tipping

Many people are unaware that they may accidentally contribute to fly tipping by:

• Leaving unwanted items outside for a passing "scrap man".
• Placing furniture or household items on pavements or verges for collection.
• Advertising items as "free to collect" and leaving them in public areas.
• Arranging waste collections through unverified social media contacts.
• Allowing unregistered individuals to take away waste.

Follow the SCRAP Code

Residents are encouraged to follow the national SCRAP Code whenever arranging for waste to be removed (summarised here, access the Shropshire Council Fly tippping briefing note for full details).

S – Suspect all waste carriers until they can prove they are legitimate.

C – Check that the waste carrier is registered with the Environment Agency.

R – Refuse unexpected offers to remove waste.

A – Ask where your waste will be taken, how it will be disposed of/recycled/reused, can they provide proof of disposal.

P – Paperwork - Always keep evidence of the transaction to demonstrate compliance with your Household Duty of Care.

Tackling fly tipping requires a collective effort from residents, businesses, partner agencies and local authorities.Together, we can help keep Shropshire clean, protect our environment, reduce unnecessary costs to taxpayers and create safer, cleaner communities for everyone.