Council urges dumpers to pull the plug on flytipping.
Highland Councillors are reminding people that there is no need to dump electrical items and break the law flytipping as disused electrical items can be recycled at local Recycling Centres.
This latest fight in the battle against dumb dumpers comes from Highland Councillor Craig Fraser who was dismayed to find a fly tipping haul of computers in the Black Isle Ward. His call is also backed by Councillor Graham Phillips, Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee which is responsible for waste and recycling.
Councillor Fraser said: “I was disgusted to find fly-tipping of old computers, monitors, and other electrical items about half a mile out of Cromarty on the shore road heading towards Jemimaville. The broken bottles, glass and mess shows a total disregard for people, animal or wildlife safety. This was clearly a pre-meditated act as the hard drives had been removed from the computers to avoid tracing who they belonged to. I would urge anyone with any information that they might have - they may have seen a car in this area, or even know who did this - to contact their local Police or if they wish remain anonymous to get in touch with Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Councillor Phillips added: “Councillor Phillips added: “There is no excuse for fly tipping and dumb dumping, it’s illegal and a stupid waste of council tax payers’ money which is the public's money, everyone's money. We have been recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment - known as WEEE - at the majority of Highland Council Recycling Centres since the start of 2010.
“If people see flytipping, they can also report this to Highland Council using the Street Cleansing section of our online services at or they can call our Service Centre on 01349 886606.
“There is also a national Dumb Dumpers campaign to help tackle flytipping, their website http://www.dumbdumpers.org/ provides information on flytipping and enforcement to the public, landowners and businesses.
WEEE includes everything from small items such as hairdryers, DVD players and battery operated toys to large items such as fridges, freezers, washing machines and televisions. It also includes fluorescent light tubes, standard light bulbs and energy efficient light bulbs.
The Recycling Electrical Producers’ Industry Consortium (REPIC) has a contract with The Highland Council to collect WEEE from the Council’s Recycling Centres. All electrical items deposited at Recycling Centres are collected by Alness-based Social Enterprise group ILM Highland who are the contractors appointed by REPIC to undertake the collections in Highland.
Wherever possible, ILM select items with a view to maximising reuse. Refurbished white goods are sold in ILM’s site shop at Unit 1G, Teaninich Industrial Estate, Alness. A computer reuse service also helps to keep valuable resources in the Highlands. The remainder of the WEEE is sent for recycling.
Computer Reuse Service run by ILM helps to increase the amount of computers being reused instead of simply being recycled. As a social enterprise, ILM also provides work and training opportunities to local unemployed people.
ILM has a showroom in Alness that sells refurbished white goods and computers. Details of items for sale can be viewed by visiting: www.facebook.com/ILMhighland
or by telephoning 01349 884774
For further information about WEEE or for advice on waste minimisation and recycling, telephone 01349 868439, email recycle@highland.gov.uk or visit http://www.highland.gov.uk/recycle.htm.