People told to 'Don't Rubbish Fife' in new anti-flytipping campaign

A new campaign called "Don't Rubbish Fife" has been launched to tackle flytipping in the Kingdom.

The pilot campaign has initially started in the Templehall area of Kirkcaldy.

Resources such as patrols, clear-ups and CCTV in "hotspots" are being increased to encourage responsible waste disposal and discourage tipping.

Community groups and residents are working with the council to help stop illegal dumping by undertaking clean-ups and sharing intelligence on how and where fly-tippers are operating.

The local authority is warning that anyone dumping waste illegally can be the subject of a fixed penalty fine of £200 and more serious cases may incur fines up to £40,000, or even imprisonment.

Ross Vettraino, Convener for Fife Council's Environment and Protective Services Sub-comittee, said: "Fife Council has zero tolerance to illegal waste dumping, which is entirely avoidable.

"Waste crime not only poses risks to human health, wildlife and the environment, but also businesses and communities.

"There is no excuse and it will not be tolerated.

"Fife is a region that prides itself on the beauty of its natural landscape, and I know that most people want to keep it that way.

"Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that their waste is appropriately disposed of."

The new campaign is raising awareness of the duty of householders to ensure that their waste is disposed of responsibility.

According to the council, part of the problem is caused when people allow their waste to be taken away by unlicensed waste carriers. 

It's important to think about to what happens to household waste when a third-party takes it away.

If someone passes their waste on and it's found to be flytipped, they might share liability with the fly-tipper.

Should illegally discarded waste be traced back to the owner and if a licenced waste carrier hasn’t been used to dispose of the waste, then the owner may be subject to enforcement action. 

The advice for local people paying someone to dispose of waste is:

• Check SEPA's registered waste carriers list online www2.sepa.org.uk/wastecarriers
• Alternatively, ask to see a (SEPA issued) waste carrier’s license
• Ask what is going to happen to your rubbish
• Get a receipt

Nigel Kerr, Fife Council's Head of Protective Services, said: "Illegal dumping has far wider consequences than "just" making our landscapes look ugly. 

"To help stop illegal dumping we’re urging local people to check that waste carriers have a SEPA license.

"Please remember that we all have a duty to know where our waste is going.

"We know that most people want to take pride in their local area and that to be successful the council needs the support of local people, who are our eyes and ears in the community.

"This is why we’re asking Fifers to help stop fly-tipping by reporting it."

You can report illegal dumping in Fife by:

• Doing it online at www.fife.gov.uk/illegaldumping
• Phoning 03451 55 00 22
• E-mailing on safercommunities.team@fife.gov.uk