Defra’s fly-tipping statistics ignore private landowners, says the CLA

The CLA today said Defra’s latest statistics on fly-tipping have ignored incidents on private land.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "Defra’s statistics say that fly-tipping has reduced by 9.3 percent. It may be the case that incidents on public land are decreasing but illegal fly-tipping on private land is on the increase and these incidents are often not being recorded or even reported.

"Fly-tipped waste on private land is an enormous financial burden for landowners who have to pay their share of the £100-£150 million problem for England and Wales each year.

"Survey results released by the Environment Agency earlier this show that 94 percent of private landowners have suffered from fly-tipping and the worst affected have experienced over one hundred separate incidents in a year.

"The research also showed that the average clear up cost was £809 per removal.

"Local authorities have systems in place to clear up public land but expect landowners to sort the problem when it is their land. Clearing fly-tipped waste costs, particularly if the waste is deemed hazardous."

The CLA President added: "The CLA calls on the Government to help landowners keep our countryside green and safe by allowing landowners to dispose of waste at local tips more easily."

"By stating that fly-tipping cases are dropping, Defra is taking the spotlight off a problem that still exists with private land where there is no system in place to help landowners recycle. This is plainly unfair."