NEW data has revealed how almost £12,000 has been spent dealing with incidents of fly-tipping in East Staffordshire.
Research by the Countryside Alliance has uncovered that the borough council had 185 recorded incidents in 2010-11 which was estimated to have cost £8,607 to clear and dispose of.
The authority issued 95 enforcement actions against fly-tippers, which cost a further £3,135.
A council spokesman said: “Fly tipping is a criminal offence and the council will prosecute where we can find evidence that a person is guilty of fly-tipping.
“It is also an offence to employ a person or company to take away waste materials who isn’t registered to do so.
“This law applies to those householders using people to dispose of their waste illegally, either knowingly or unknowingly.
“Around 65 per cent of fly-tipping incidents involve domestic waste and ignorance is no longer a defence.
“If your waste is discovered in the flytipping you could face a fine of up to £5,000.
“Anyone who has witnessed a fly-tip or has any information, please contact the team on 0800 269098 or email enforcement@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk”
In South Derbyshire, it was revealed that safer neighbourhood wardens at the district council take a hard line stance in relation to fly tipping.
In the last couple of years, the wardens have secured eight convictions for waste offences and several cautions. Incidents of fly-tipping on highways have reduced from 711 in 2009-10 to 658 in 2010-11.
Environmental health enforcement manager Jack Twomey said: “There is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping and local residents should not have to tolerate this type of behaviour.
“Cleaning up fly-tipping costs us all money; it’s dangerous and potentially harmful to health; it spoils our enjoyment of the surroundings and can cause serious pollution of the environment.
“The council has been, and will be, doing everything in its power to prevent environmental crime taking place.”
Figures for North West Leicestershire District Council showed that it had 1,009 incidents of fly tipping, issued 267 enforcement notices and had 11 successful prosecutions.
