Fly-tipping captures and fines see huge rise in a year, new figures reveal
We’ve now caught 851 fly-tippers since lockdown began last March, with fines totalling a massive £343,000.
Our new CCTV cameras, installed just six months ago, have helped capture 124 people who dump their unwanted rubbish on our streets, public land and open spaces, with fines adding up to more than £50,000.
The other 727 fly-tippers have been caught by our environmental enforcement officers, often with the help of residents fed up with others disposing of their waste illegally and creating an environmental eyesore.
These offenders have faced combined fines of more than £290,000, with each fine being £400.
The figures for the previous year – April 2019 to March 2020 – show a total of 469 fines were issued, amounting to £140,700.
Although during that period the fines were £300, and are now £400, the number of actual fly-tippers who have been caught in the last 12 months has risen by 382.
Money from fines use to improve service
The huge success of the CCTV cameras, erected at some of the city’s worst dumping grounds, means we’ve purchased another two to ensure we’re capturing even more fly-tippers. The cameras will also be used to catch graffiti taggers.
We’re also still calling on residents to remember to keep informing us of any fly-tipping incidents they come across.
Money from the fines is used to buy more cameras as well as improving this vital service.
‘Fly-tipping is something we’re determined to stop’
Councillor Amy Heley, chair of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “Fly-tipping costs the council, and therefore residents, more than £100,000 a year, so it’s something we’re determined to stop or at least limit as much as possible.
“These new cameras and further public assistance will help even more in tackling this ongoing problem.”
Although the minimum fine for fly-tipping is £400, as it’s a criminal offence, offenders can receive an unlimited fine or face court action.
The CCTV system, installed last October, also features Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), so when footage of a vehicle is captured, the number plate will be matched with data sources from Sussex Police to identify the vehicle keeper and help with prosecution.
Common examples of fly-tipping are:
• Dumping any household items like mattresses, fridges and sofas beside communal bins or recycling points
• Residents leaving their unwanted items - so called 'street treasure' - on the pavement or outside their homes in the hope others will take away or reuse them
• Tipping rubbish or building materials in the countryside or green spaces such as parks.
Cllr Heley added: “There are many lawful ways to dispose of unwanted items including taking them to one of the city’s two household waste recycling sites or giving them away free on social media platforms like Gumtree, Freegle or Facebook Marketplace.”
Use our new fly-tipping hotline
The CCTV follows on from the council setting up a fly-tipping hotline - 01273 295063 – where people can report a fly-tip crime, allowing our staff to respond immediately.
Previously, people wanting to report fly-tippers had to fill in an online form.
But now you can also use the new phone line, which will be staffed from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, allowing enforcement officers to take swifter action, and possibly even catch the perpetrators in the act.
Callers outside these hours will be able to leave a message with details of where and when the fly-tip took place.
The new number is for reporting fly-tipping issues only, with the phone line operator not being able to discuss any other council issues.