Following an exchange of emails that some may have seen on The Grapevine, here’s what Bucks Council Fly Tipping Enforcement team advise if you spot fly tipping (or the results):

• If you see someone fly-tipping please take the vehicle index details and don’t interfere (they could take the waste somewhere else to dump it where there is no witness) – report details including location, date and time to SCRAPflytipping@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

• No need to put yourself at risk taking a photo, but always helpful if possible to do so safely 

• Report dumped waste for clearance at Fix My Street www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk unless on private land then report to mailbox SCRAPflytipping@buckinghamshire.gov.uk active from 1 April 2020

• Householder’s duty is to check they are using a registered waste carrier

• We ask everyone to insist that they pay online as it can be traced 

• Please also make a note of the waste carrier vehicle registration number

• Will be prosecuted if traceable payment – NOT cash

• Use someone you find – not someone who finds you, don’t use ‘man with van’ knocking at door

• Most waste fly-tipped in Bucks (> 50%) is brought in from London (and Slough)

• Since 1 April 2019  72% of fly-tipping has been trade waste and not a resident dumping their own waste 

• Average more than 1 dumping conviction a week for 10 years in Bucks

• Average total to pay by offenders at court is £1,875  (includes both dumping and failures in duty of care)

• Fines increasing since 2014 Sentencing Guidelines

• Re-offenders are much more likely to be caught and will be at a higher risk of a prison sentence (max up to 5 years) 

• Council is awarded on average 75% costs by the courts

• Of that 75% we recover 97% to Council accounts

• Don’t be tempted to add to fly-tipped waste – this would be viewed as fly-tipping (by you !)  and a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy applies

• Household waste is free to take to the Household Recycling Centre, aka ‘the dump’ (includes fridges, mattresses, sofas, household black bag excess)

• ‘Household waste’ usually means the things you would take with you if you moved house, plus plant based garden waste – full details at :-www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/waste-and-recycling/household-recycling-centres/waste-we-charge-for

• Waste management has never been ‘free’ – it was paid for through taxation

• We believe service users should pay for expensive services, rather than being fully subsidised by all

• Scrap Fly-tipping campaign details :

https://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/scrap-fly-tipping/

Follow Fly-tipping Enforcement team on Twitter at @BucksFlyTipping