It is good to see a fall in flytipping, but of course the statistics released by SWP do not tell the whole story.  

In April 2011, cuts to recycling centres across Somerset brought reductions in opening hours (by 2 days a week), and introduced new entrance charges at four centres and new charges for recycling some materials at all centres. Flytipping across went up 54% across Somerset and 21% across Mendip in the following year.

The latest annual figures show there were still 1,498 more flytipping incidents a year across Somerset, 41% more, in 2012/13 than in 2010/11 (across Mendip there was 226 more flytipping incidents, 16% more).

You can see the figures in the attached graphs.

The cuts to recycling centres by Conservative-run Somerset County Council are still having a clear impact on flytipping.  The current strategy for reducing flytipping is also clearly not working well enough across the districts.

There are ways everyone can help stop this environmental crime, by informing Mendip District Council (0300 303 8588) of any flytips or flytipping activity, and by making sure that any contractors taking waste away from your property are properly registered Waste Carriers (by asking them, or calling the Environment Agency on 0370 8506506) as unregistered cowboys are more likely to dump it than recycle it or dispose of it properly

I and cllr Sam Phripp put a motion to Mendip District Council in September 2012 to highlight the impact of the county council’s policy on flytipping, but it was voted down by the Conservatives who preferred to ignore the cause and effect.  Somerset Lib Dems also attempted to tackle this issue in December 2012 but were again voted down by Somerset’s Conservatives.  People should not forget this, and can help by highlighting the issue and getting in touch.

The SWP press release is here – http://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/2013/10/somerset-fly-tipping-figures-fall/

My previous articles on flytipping are here – http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/categories/Waste%20and%20Recycling/