Council cracks down on fly-tippers after collecting almost 1000 tonnes of rubbish last year

Residents have now been urged to help the council crackdown on fly-tipping after almost 1,000 tonnes of rubbish was collected over the last 12 months.

It has also been revealed that 18 people were prosecuted for fly-tipping in the same year.

In December 2019 a heap of rubbish, including bathroom suites, bricks and rubble was dumped at Hebburn Marina, afterwaste including white goods was found at Waterside Park on Sunday, October 6, 2019.

Over the Christmas period, a pile of festive gift wrap and cardboard boxes was discovered at a beauty spot on Sunniside Lane in Cleadon.

Now Councillor Joan Atkinson, lead member for area management and community safety, has called on local residents to help crackdown on offenders by being the council’s “eyes and ears”.

Coun Atkinson said: “We know that most members of the public agree with us when we say that fly-tipping is disgraceful.

“We are committed to taking action against the small minority of people who spoil our borough in this way.

“There are significant costs involved in clearing and investigating this type of illegal disposal of waste which places a burden on the finances of the council and ultimately the taxpayer.

“In the last year we have collected fewer than 1,000 tonnes of fly-tipped rubbish which is 1,000 tonnes too many.

“We work tirelessly to apprehend those responsible and in the last year alone have successfully prosecuted 18 people in relation to fly-tipping under Section 108 of the Environment Act 1995 as well as issuing on-the-spot fines.

“We rely heavily on the public’s help to be our eyes and ears to help identify those responsible for these crimes. To issue fines and prosecute those responsible we need evidence that an offence has taken place.”

Coun Atkinson has also advised residents to ensure that anyone disposing of their household waste has a valid waste carriers’ licence and people are reminded to use the Recycling Village at Middlefields Industrial Estate, South Shields.

She added: “If residents have any excess household waste to dispose of, we encourage them to check that their tradespeople have a valid waste carriers’ licence before employing them. If they don’t and their waste is found fly-tipped they could be prosecuted and fined.

“We would also like to remind people that we have recycling and disposal skips at the Recycling Village where a variety of rubbish can be taken and disposed of legally, safely and responsibly. There is no excuse for people not to dispose of their rubbish properly.”

Anyone who sees any incidents of fly-tipping should report it on (0191) 427 7000, email [email protected] or www.southtyneside.gov.uk/reportit.

Residents are assured that all calls will be treated with the strictest confidence.

More information about how waste can be safely and responsibly disposed of in South Tyneside is available at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling