Images of thousands of tonnes of rubbish blighting the great British countryside have highlighted the true scale of fly-tipping.
Large scale co-ordinated dumping is now a regular occurrence.
Photos sent to the National Farmers Union (NFU) show it’s not just large domestic items such as washing machines, fridges, sofas, mattresses and furniture, but also clinical waste and rubbish from construction and demolition.
Yesterday, the government confirmed a rise in the number of incidents to 936,000 in 2015/16.
With rural tourism contributing £130m to the nation’s economy (2015-16) the NFU said it believes more urgency is needed to protect the British countryside from fly-tipping, with local authorities and police helping farmers battle the issue.
Under the current rules farmers and landowners are left facing hefty bills to remove vast amounts of rubbish dumped illegally on their land.
'Scourge of the countryside'
NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said the solution was better collaboration between all those affected parties.
“Fly-tipping is the scourge of the countryside - clearly we are disappointed that the number of fly-tipping incidents has increased,” she said.
“Farmers are fully aware of the impacts this can have on farm and the wider countryside, as well as the high costs and stress that can come along with it. This can run into thousands of pounds and can see farmers being forced to deal with the aftermath themselves.
“That’s why we have written to the Minister of Justice, Liz Truss, as well as the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), to ensure that magistrates are aware of increased fine limits and that they are fully informed on the negative impact fly-tipping can have on the rural community.
She said it is 'crucial' that Britain’s countryside is not used as a 'dumping ground'.
“We need a broader government strategy that allows incidents to be reported more effectively and cleared up, intelligence to be shared more easily and we need a campaign to raise awareness among householders on their responsibilities in disposing of unwanted waste.”
