REVEALED: Doncaster Council had to clear up more than 54, 000 fly-tipping incidents - at a cost of £2.2m

Doncaster Council had to clear up more than 54, 000 fly-tipping sites in the last five years '“ at a whopping cost of more than £2.2 million.
Litter dumped in Hexthorpe.Litter dumped in Hexthorpe.
Litter dumped in Hexthorpe.

Figures revealed under the Freedom of Information Act showed the authority had to clear up 54, 629 incidents of illegally dumped litter between April 2013 and March 2018. This cost the authority £2, 275, 017.

Read More
Football's coming home: Sheffield Council leader calls for any World Cup homecom...
Councillor Peter Dale.Councillor Peter Dale.
Councillor Peter Dale.

Peter Dale, director for regeneration and environment at Doncaster Council, said: “We have a zero tolerance approach to anyone who doesn’t dispose of their rubbish in the right way and decides to fly tip this on our highway instead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Fly tipping is something that is easily avoidable. We are working hard to encourage businesses and residents to take personal responsibility for their environment.

"We have a robust process in place, investigating all reports of fly tipping and we will take enforcement action against all and any offenders whenever possible.

“It’s also an offence to give your waste to somebody to take away on your behalf if the collector doesn’t have a waste carriers licence.

"If you haven’t checked or you’re unsure don’t risk it.”

The annual cost to clear them up ranged from more than £404, 000 to over £517, 000.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the last five years the authority has issued 297 fixed penalty notices.

The council has also successfully prosecuted 70 cases in court.

One resident - Malcolm Flowitt, aged 39, of Barnstone Street, Hexthorpe - was convicted of fly-tipping large domestic waste at the rear of Ramsden Road in Hexthorpe.

Doncaster Council said he was paid £20 by another resident to dispose of their waste and instead of disposing of this in the correct manner he fly-tipped it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Flowitt appeared at Doncaster Magistrates' Court in June and was fined £260, made to pay £689.37 costs along with a victim surcharge of £30.

After the hearing, councillor Chris McGuinness, cabinet member for communities and the environment at Doncaster Council, said: “We will not tolerate anyone in Doncaster using our streets as rubbish tips and not disposing of their rubbish in the correct way.

"Mr Flowitt was paid to dispose of waste and instead he decided to fly tip it, he has now paid the price for doing this.

“We would urge all residents to take extra care and responsibility when paying someone to take their waste away.

"You can then contact the Environment Agency directly to make sure it is a valid licence."