Authorities have joined forces to launch a new campaign to stop fly-tipping.
The Hertfordshire Fly-tipping Group (FTG) is made up of Herts police, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Environment Agency, the National Farmers Union (NFU), a charity called Keep Britain Tidy, and councils in the area - including St Albans district and Herts county.
Their new initiative SCRAP is based on an acronym to remind people of their obligations when deposing of waste:
• Suspect all waste carriers until they provide proof they are legitimate.
• Check their registration details, then verify them on 03708 506 506.
• Refuse unsolicited offers of waste disposal.
• Ask for evidence it will be correctly disposed of.
• Paperwork, including an invoice and receipt, should be obtained.
Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd, said: “The public has a duty of care to ensure that their waste is disposed of responsibly and failure to do so could result in an unlimited fine.”
He said residents and businesses should follow SCRAP to avoid being prosecuted in court.
Ch Con Charlie Hall added: “It is surprising to see how much fly tipped waste comes from normal households - remember we all have an obligation to dispose of our waste responsibly. The police will continue to work alongside local authorities and will not hesitate to use our resources and skills to help prosecute serious and serial fly tippers.”
Farmers around the district will be putting up banners at fly-tipping hotspots and raising awareness of the campaign at events such as the Hertfordshire County Show.
Harpenden farmer and Herts NFU representative, Will Dickinson, said: “[Fly-tipping] is harming Hertfordshire’s beautiful countryside, posing a danger to wildlife and livestock and costing farmers and landowners time and money to clear away. The key message of the SCRAP campaign is that the public can make a real difference by ensuring their waste is disposed of responsibly.”
FTG chairman and partnership development manager for the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership, Duncan Jones, said two thirds of fly-tips are normal household waste.
Anyone who spots fly-tipping taking place should contact police on 999. Anything discovered afterwards should be reported to SADC on 01727 809019 or on wastemanagementservices@stalbans.gov.uk
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