Published: Tuesday, 19th March 2019
A campaign to help fight the blight of fly-tipping in Norfolk is coming to west Norfolk.
The award-winning SCRAP fly-tipping campaign comes to King’s Lynn this Saturday, offering help and advice on the legal disposal of waste.
Created in Hertfordshire and now in force in counties across England, SCRAP reminds people to check their waste is being taken away for disposal by a licensed carrier, by checking for a Waste Carrier's Licence or looking the company up on the Environment Agency website.
Working together with Norfolk Police, the Environment Agency, the NFU and the CLA, the campaign is being delivered locally by the Norfolk Waste Partnership, which is made up of the eight councils in the county.
The SCRAP fly-tipping campaign gives people the chance to find out more about what their options and responsibilities are when disposing of their waste and reminding them of their duty of care.
Officers from The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk will be at New Conduit Street, King’s Lynn on Saturday 23 March 2019 from 9:00am until 1:00pm with a mock fly-tip, offering advice on everything from checking for a Waste Carrier’s Licence to reporting fly-tipping.
Principal Environmental Health officer Mark Whitmore said: “We all dislike fly-tipping, west Norfolk is a beautiful area and we’d like to keep it that way.
"There are lots of ways that people can legally dispose of their waste. By popping along this Saturday they can find out more, including helping people understand where their waste is going.
"The householder duty of care means everyone has responsibility for disposing of their waste legally. Failure to do so could result in an unlimited fine.”
People can avoid a fine by following the SCRAP code:
S uspect ALL waste carriers
C heck with the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 that the provider taking the waste away is licensed
R efuse unexpected offers to have waste taken away
A sk what will happen to the waste
P aperwork should be obtained – get a full receipt
In 2017-18, there were more than 15,000 fly-tips across Norfolk, at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of over £830,000. More than 4,000 investigations were undertaken at an estimated cost of £225,000. Fly-tipping is punishable by an unlimited fine or imprisonment.
Roger Thomas from the Environment Agency, said: “People who fly-tip have no respect for the environment and no regard for the consequences if found guilty of a waste offence.
“Don’t give waste to anyone not listed on our website at GOV.UK. Alternatively call our National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506506. A legitimate operator should be happy to provide a waste carrier number.
“If anyone believes the waste service offered is illegal they can report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
PC Dave Armstrong of Norfolk Constabulary said: “Fly-tipping is an offence: one that poses a risk to people and the environment. This campaign offers practical and helpful advice on how people can dispose of their unwanted items and stay on the right side of the law. We would encourage members of the public to contact their local council if they have any concerns about the issue in the area.”
NFU Norfolk County Adviser John Newton, said: “Fly tipping is harming Norfolk’s beautiful countryside, posing a danger to wildlife and livestock and costing farmers and landowners time and money to clear away. We’re pleased it is being tackled in partnership with the police, local authorities and other organisations. The key message of the SCRAP campaign is that the public can make a real difference by ensuring their waste is disposed of responsibly.”
The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses across Norfolk. CLA Regional Surveyor Tim Woodward said: “Fly-tipping is a crime that blights the Norfolk countryside and this campaign will hopefully raise awareness of simple steps members of the public can take to ensure their waste doesn’t end up in a field or on a roadside verge.
“It is not only local councils that have to pick up the bill for clearing fly-tipped waste. Private landowners are responsible for removing rubbish dumped on their land and picking up the bill for doing so, which can often run into hundreds of pounds each time.
“With nearly 1-million incidents of fly-tipping nationally last year action is clearly needed to combat this issue.”
For more information about the campaign, fly-tipping and legal ways to get rid of unwanted items, visit: www.norfolkrecycles.com/scrapflytipping