A County Council campaign to reduce fly-tipping across Northumberland, and in particular the hot-spots of Ashington and Blyth, is reaping rewards with a significant downturn in incidents.
The council has reported that tougher action and a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the consequences is delivering impressive results with a substantial reduction in the number of incidents of illegal dumping of waste. However, it stresses it will continue to prioritise tackling this environmental crime to continue to reduce the number of incidents and to ensure those responsible are held to account.
Between April – November 2024 there has been a 30% reduction in fly tipping incidents in Blyth compared to the same period in 2023. Down from 1227 incidents to 865
Between April – November 2024 there has been a 21% reduction in fly tipping incidents in Ashington compared to the same period in 2023, down from 1408 incidents to 1107.
Meanwhile, county wide, in October alone there was a 45% reduction overall with 236 incidents compared to 429 in October 2023, and in November there was a 29% reduction overall with 248 incidents compared to 351 in November 2023.
Over recent months the council has been running a targeted campaign to clamp down on rubbish that is dumped in back lanes in residential areas. "Crime scenes” are being identified and marked with tape and the authority is tracking down and fining the offenders.
Northumberland County Councillor, Colin Horncastle Cabinet member with responsibility for Looking after our Environment said: “Our publicity campaign has been both hard-hitting and eye-catching - and it has generated significant social media coverage, but most importantly it is getting results.”
“Despite the downward trend this is just the start and the council’s campaign will continue. In addition to the existing CCTV cameras, we’ve just installed a further 16 cameras around Ashington in known fly-tipping locations which have already caught a culprit.
“We will be distributing more leaflets and we’ll be promoting the campaign on refuse vehicles. There will also be more fines and prosecutions for those found guilty of this environmental crime.”
In addition to enforcement measures, officers have also been on educational door to door visits to explain exactly what fly-tipping is, the consequences of it and to discuss the many ways to dispose of waste easily, properly and legally.
“Discarding rubbish on the street should never be an option, and yet some people think it is. Every time we clear illegally dumped rubbish it costs us resources and money, which could have been avoided and better spent elsewhere on other services for residents.” Cllr Horncastle added.