More resources must go into enforcement to crack down on industrial size fly-tipping which is “blighting the countryside”, the CLA says
Farmers and landowners have warned that fines for people who pass waste to a rogue âman and vanâ for disposal are just the âtip of the icebergâ in the fight to deter fly-tippers.
Landowners are pushing for more deterrents in the fight against fly-tipping and for the number of âmeaningful prosecutionsâ to increase.
The call comes as the Government brings forward the legislation required to introduce new financial penalties of up to ÂŁ400.
The fine is for householders who fail to ensure their waste is not fly-tipped by unauthorised waste carriers through a legal Duty of Care.
The CLA, which represents landowners and farmers, says it supports the fines but calls for more resources to go into enforcement to crack down on industrial size fly-tipping which is âblighting the countrysideâ.
CLA President, Tim Breitmeyer said: âIt is easy to blame householders for the significant rise in fly-tipping but weâre seeing more and more waste on an industrial-size scale dumped across the countryside.
âPart of the problem is council fees putting people off lawful disposal at the local tip but it is also businesses not complying with existing waste disposal regulations.
âThe costs and process of getting a waste transfer licence prevents legal disposal and encourages organised crime.â
The CLA calls for the police to raise more awareness of the risks of being caught participating in waste crime and an increase in the number of meaningful prosecutions.
Latest fly-tipping statistics show that there were 14,430 incidents involving âsignificant [or] multi-loadsâ of waste in England in 2017-18, a rise of 43 per cent from 10,120 the year before.
Farmers and private landowners are often required to clear up waste dumped on their land.