People reminded to dispose of their rubbish correctly

People across south west Shropshire are being reminded that their local recycling centres are for recycling materials only, and to dispose of all their rubbish properly – or risk being fined or prosecuted for flytipping. 

The warning comes after Shropshire Council’s street scene team issued another £80 fine – or fixed penalty notice – to a person from out of the area for leaving a black sack of general rubbish behind the recycling banks at the Upper Galdeford car park in Ludlow. 

Previously, a fine was issued for flytipping after a black sack was found dumped at Castle Street car park recycling banks.  Information within the sack was used to identify the culprit. 

Non-recyclable materials are also left at other amenity sites including the larger Crowgate recycling centre at Bishop’s Castle.  Volunteers from Bishop’s Castle’s Waste Less Society help keep the site tidy and report flytipping to be cleared. 

Councillor Martin Bennett, Shropshire Council’s deputy cabinet member, said:

“Flytipping is a real nuisance to everyone.  It’s not fair that council tax payers’ money has to be spent clearing up other peoples mess and rubbish, because they are too lazy or irresponsible to dispose of it properly.  These ongoing enforcement cases demonstrate that we take this matter very seriously, and can fine people £80, or prosecute, if they are caught flytipping. 

“If people do have a problem with rubbish then come and talk to us. We can give advice regarding waste disposal and can offer several options for disposing of waste correctly.” 

Information used to investigate cases is gathered from various sources including town centre CCTV, the police, environmental maintenance officers on patrol and members of the public.  Public witnesses who can describe an incident including offenders and any vehicle that may have been involved are very valuable, allowing the DVLA register to be searched for a registered keeper.  Witnesses’ details are not revealed unless prosecution is pursued and the court demands the details are made public. 

To report a problem of flytipping, litter or get further information on waste disposal sites in your area, please call 0345 678 9006, or alternatively report a problem online at shropshire.gov.uk/environmentmaintenance.nsf.  

Waste left beside recycling banks is classed as flytipping, which is also an offence. For minor offences an FPN may be appropriate.  For cases of larger scale flytipping, repeat offenders, or hazardous waste, prosecution in the courts is pursued. 

The Fixed Penalty Notice charge is currently set at £80, with a reduced fine of £50 if it is paid within 14 days.  By paying the penalty charge, the person accepts they have committed an offence and discharges their liability for it.  If payment is not made, prosecution in the magistrates court is pursued, where higher fines are enforced.