Fly-tipping across England has dropped by 9.3% in the last year, new statistics published by Defra today show.
• In 2008-09 there were 1.16 million fly-tipping incidents dealt with by local authorities. A 9.3% decrease from the 1.28 million reported in 2007-08;
• 50% of all fly-tips occurred on highways;
• The estimated cost of clearance of illegally dumped waste reported by local authorities in this period was £54.9million; and
• Local authorities increased their enforcement actions in 2008-09 by 3.9% to over 520,000, this includes 2,000 prosecutions.
Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:
"Fly-tipping is unacceptable and a stain on our environment, which costs local authorities in England tens of millions of pounds each year that could be spent on local services. All waste can and should be disposed of responsibly.
"I am pleased to see a reduction of over 9% in incidents, but 1.16 million is still too many. It affects our lives wherever we live, and Local Authorities, Government and people need to play their part in stopping it."
Defra will continue to work with the Environment Agency and Local Authorities to prevent illegal waste activity through a combination of education, prevention and enforcement.
Measures the Government are taking to reduce fly-tipping include: reviewing legislation to make it easier for businesses to dispose of their waste correctly; campaigns to explain to businesses how they can dispose of their waste responsibility; working with local authorities to develop anti-flytipping strategies; and future awareness raising campaigns on changing the behaviour of fly-tippers.