Fly-tipping has become more prevalent in the UK. 2020/21 saw 1.3 million incidents in England alone, an increase of 16% from the previous year. But the true cost is not only hurting the environment but has cost a staggering £60 million of taxpayers’ money to clean up the mess.
Household waste is the biggest culprit. Everything from carpets to old furniture and DIY waste has been dumped at the side of the road, left on the kerb and throughout the countryside.
Here we discuss why hiring a professional rubbish removal company is the perfect preventative measure for fly-tipping:
What is fly-tipping?
Fly-tipping is when waste is illegally deposited onto land that is not licensed to accept it. In short, offenders typically want to get rid of their trash without having to pay legit disposal costs.
But here’s the rub: fly-tipping is a criminal offence, and if you’re caught, you could land a £50,000 fine or jail time and a conviction to boot. And it’s not necessarily just the perpetrators that can earn a penalty, but the victims of fly-tipping too.
If it’s discovered that your rubbish has been fly-tipped, even by someone else, you could be found guilty of the offence. Equally, if someone dumps their rubbish on your land, unfortunately, the responsibility of safe disposal lands with you.
Report fly-tipping to your local authority
If you spot any traces of fly-tipping in your local area or on your land, you need to report it to your local authority rather than the council. The latter isn’t known for clearing away fly-tipping without a fee.
However, the council will likely investigate further and find those responsible, which could lead to prosecution. The best thing you can do is keep a clear record of any disposal costs. You may be able to recover them in full should prosecution occur.
Environmental impacts of fly-tipping
Toxic chemicals, asbestos and nature-trapping waste all significantly impact the environment – arguably, more than the immense financial costs.
Animals, plants and even humans can all be caused harm when your waste is not disposed of correctly. Waterways such as rivers and streams can become polluted, and even the soil can be impacted by abandoned waste.
Living in an area polluted with rubbish can also affect your mental wellbeing. After all, abandoned waste encourages unpleasant odours, flies and pests that could impact the value of your property and business.
Why should you hire a professional rubbish removal company?
Hiring a professional London rubbish removal company is the best way to ensure your rubbish is disposed of correctly and ethically. Once they have cleared away your unwanted waste from your home or business, they will sort through all of your junk for recycling and safe disposal.
No fly-tipping, no dangerous chemicals combined with full responsibility over your rubbish disposal is what you can expect.
But more than that, they will take all the burdens of queuing times and sorting off your hands, so you don’t have to spend hours waiting for your turn at the recycling centre. Plus, the best rubbish removal companies out there have good relationships with all your local recycling centres and charities.
So, hiring a professional rubbish removal company is the best option if you want to ensure all your unwanted junk is disposed of properly. It takes away the stress of disposing of all your rubbish yourself, and with the rising fuel costs, it will save you from using unnecessary fuel in the queue!
What else can you do to prevent fly-tipping?
Keeping tabs on your local area is all part of the responsibility of living somewhere. It’s your neighbourhood, after all. While it might feel like a losing battle, on the one hand, you might inspire others in your area with your actions.
So what else can you do to prevent fly-tipping in your area?
Keep a look out:
No one is suggesting that you become your area’s sole neighbourhood watch advocate! But, by simply paying attention to the people walking around and driving around your neighbourhood and seeing how they behave is not going to take away from your day.
While you should never approach someone fly-tipping on your property as they could pose a danger to you and your community, you can report it directly to the police or council.
Despite an eyesore landing on your property, it’s essential that you don’t try and sort out the mess yourself, as hazardous materials may be present. Instead, speak to a professional and log every interaction and expense you have in case the perpetrator is found.
Restrict or prevent access:
Access is the number one thing a fly-tipper needs to accomplish their crime. Physically restricting access to your property with fences, gates, trees etc., will help deter them from entering your property in the first place.
But, you need to remember to keep the fences and gates locked if you aren’t on the property!
To dissuade fly-tipping at night time, you can instal an automated light system that activates when it detects movement. This gives the illusion that the property is manned despite the time of day.
CCTV and signage
Fly-tippers don’t like to get caught in the act. It sort of defeats the whole anonymous purpose of the crime. Even if you instal non-functional cameras, you could potentially prevent them from enering your property just as a precaution.
To go a step further, you can put up warning signs for fly-tippers as it suggests you have a process in place to prevent the crime from occurring in the first place.
Hiring a professional rubbish removal company just makes sense. They ensure all of your waste is disposed of appropriately, save you time and allow you to carry on with your day as they take care of all the rest.
Whether you want to prevent fly-tipping on your property or ensure that your unwanted trash is disposed of correctly, your local professionals are only a phone call or email away.