Witney News - Encouraging people to bin fly-tipping

Encouraging people to bin fly-tipping

Over 100 people have been given information and advice about fly-tipping and what they can do to help combat the problem as part of an ongoing awareness campaign by West Oxfordshire District Council.

The Council's Environmental Enforcement Team was at Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt, on Wednesday (April 25th) stopping members of the public and traders as they arrived to drop off waste and recycling items.

The event coincided with national Fly-tipping Awareness Week, which runs until April 29th, and is part of a wider Council initiative aimed at clearing up and improving West Oxfordshire's environment.

The Team, recently introduced to tackle issues such as fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles, gave information and handed out posters with details of how to report fly-tipping to the Council.

Verena Hunt, Deputy Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: "The Environmental Enforcement Team asked people to act as their 'eyes and ears', and report all incidents of fly-tipping. As well as clearing up the mess within a target time of 24 hours, the Council will then investigate and take appropriate action against offenders. This is all part of a continuing campaign and fly-tippers should be aware that they could be prosecuted."

Traders were also approached and given packs of information and application forms to register to transport waste to community amenity sites such as Dix Pit. It is a legal requirement for anyone who transports or deals in controlled waste as part of their business, or for profit, to register with the Environment Agency. Failure to do so can result in a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.

Householders who contract traders to carry out work also have a responsibility to check that they are registered. Registered traders should have copies of a Waste Transfer Note for householders to sign.

The Council's Environmental Enforcement Team will carry out further stop-checks of traders in the District. For more information about registering, visit the Environment Agency website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk, telephone 08708 506506 or email [email protected].

To report fly-tipping in West Oxfordshire, fill in an online form at www.westoxon.gov.uk or call 01993 861020.