People in Exeter are being urged to play their part in helping to crack down on illegal fly-tipping.
It comes during Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight, a national campaign which runs between 12 and 25 October.
As part of the campaign, householders are being encouraged to make sure they hire responsible traders when getting rid of rubbish.
This is because a huge number of waste crimes are committed by rogue ‘white van’ operators who lure people in with cheap deals for rubbish removal on social media, only for the waste to end up dumped at the side of the road or on a village green!
And it’s not just the person fly-tipping who can get in trouble with the law. Householders paying for unscrupulous waste traders could themselves get a fixed penalty notice for inadvertently hiring fly-tippers.
Keep Britain Tidy is once again asking people to support Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight and take a stand against fly-tipping.
Every year, over a million fly-tipping incidents blight our streets, parks and local spaces, costing tax-payers millions of pounds that could be better spent on vital public services like schools, libraries, parks and social care.
Those who don’t choose wisely when hiring their waste removal could inadvertently be supporting criminal networks and be liable for a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Keep Britain Tidy recommend the following three simple steps when arranging for rubbish to be collected.
- Ask for a waste carrier registration number
- Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register or call 0300 065 3000
- Check you’ll get a receipt
Cllr Ruth Williams, Exeter City Council’s Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Support Services and City Management, said that even dumping a bag of refuse beside a litter bin or bring bank was fly-tipping and that the City Council would endeavour to take action against fly-tippers: “We all need to play our part in stopping fly-tipping. It’s simply not good enough to turn the other cheek and let somebody else do the dirty work.
“And although Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight is about raising awareness for two weeks of the year, we are only going to eradicate fly-tipping if we all pull together 365 days of the year.”
To find out more about Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight and tips for tackling fly-tipping, visit the Keep Britain Tidy website at Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight | Keep Britain Tidy
To report fly-tipping, visit the City Council website at Report fly tipping - Exeter City Council

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