Cambridge Suffers from Hazardous Waste Fly-Tipping
Fly-tipping – the act of dumping waste on public or privately owned ground without either permission or a valid licence from the Environment Agency of England & Wales – is an on-going issue in the UK, not to mention being a huge drain on the resources of local councils.
Despite carrying fines of up to £50,000, prison sentences of up to a year and the risk of seized vehicles, fly-tipping is still remarkably commonplace across the Cambridge area. In fact, according to recent figures, it’s still on the rise. Between 2011 and 2012, 175 incidents of unlawful dumping of waste were recorded in the region, while that figure stretched to 208 this year.
So where are the fly-tipping hotspots favoured by these environmental criminals?
Just ten streets in the town account for an amazing 400+ instances of illegal rubbish dumping, with seven of them located in the King’s Hedges borough. Atkins Close was one of the biggest repeat offenders, proving to be a fly-tipper’s favourite location two years running, recording 48 incidents this time around (up from 41 previously).
City councillors have expressed support for gathering this type of data, as it allows them to correctly proportion budgets and transfer resources to the areas most in need of help against environmental crime.
The council also discouraged people from attempting to clear fly-tipping sites themselves, as they could contain hazardous waste. There have been instances of incorrect and highly dangerous asbestos disposal by fly-tippers, and other dangerous materials, such as syringes, toxic substances and broken glass could be hidden in the rubbish. Leaving the site undisturbed is also important for giving the authorities the best chance possible to unearth information regarding the identity of the environmental criminals.
The only exception to this rule is when the fly-tipped waste is on private land. In this instance, it is the responsibility of the landowner to remove the rubbish.
Caution has also been expressed about approaching anyone seen in the act of fly-tipping, as they could become aggressive in the knowledge of being caught doing something illegal. Instead, try to subtly make a note of any standout features of their appearance, as well as vehicle registration numbers and descriptions.
Woodford Recycling offer the best waste management solutions available in the Cambridge area and beyond. Our experts are on hand to carry out effective, safe and cost-effective hazardous waste disposal, as well as performing asbestos removal that’s both secure and up to code (we hold a full Waste Management Licence). For any non-hazardous waste, we provide landfill services located close to Huntingdon, and our range of skip hire options get rid of any need to get rid of your waste in a dangerous or illegal manner.
Get in touch today to find out more.
