Council gets tough on Fly Tippers

With recent additions to the list of items that can be accepted by The Highland Council’s waste and recycling centres, local enforcement officers are launching a new poster to highlight the fines that could be dished out for fly tipping.

Local Education and Enforcement Officer James Sanderson, seen here at a recent fly tipping said: “Not only will fly tippers earn a fine of up to £40,000  they could even have their vehicle confiscated and earn a criminal conviction.”

He went on to say that people that go out of their way to dump items, really have no consideration for the environment.  “I sometimes find household items fly tipped just a short distance from a waste and recycling centre, it’s hard to understand why people drive away from local Council provided sites in order to break the law and damage the environment.”

Typical recent fly tipped items in the area have included bags of rubble at Foulis, garden and household waste, cardboard, books, toys & reusable electrical items at Newmore, Invergordon, Novar Estate near Evanton and at Helmsdale with some individuals being caught and fined.

Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services, Councillor John Laing supports the new poster campaign.  He said:  “Everyone should realise that anything dumped on a roadside verge, thrown in woods, or carelessly discarded along the coastline has to be recovered and disposed of correctly and this involves a huge cost to landowners and The Highland Council. Fly tipping is also hazard to wildlife and children who are naturally inquisitive so we will treat all fly tipping cases as a serious matter. Our enforcement officers, with the help of Northern Constabulary and SEPA, will ensure that the cost of fly tipping to the people caught will be very high.”

Anyone who sees any fly tipping taking place is urged to help by calling the Council’s Service Centre on 01349 886606.