Great Yarmouth Borough Council changes way fly-tipping incidents are recorded to better reflect scale of issue

Proactive clearing of illegally dumped waste by the council's teams has not previously been included in its fly-tipping statistics. However, this doesn't provide the full picture to the public about the amount of fly-tipping and the work the council carries out to proactively remove dumped rubbish.

With that in mind, the council has changed how it records incidents to include waste removed by its teams before it is reported, as well as cases it is alerted to by the public. These figures are detailed in Great Yarmouth Borough Council's latest performance figures.

Officers said they hope the change will shine a light on those who continue to break the law, damage the environment and blight communities by illegally dumping waste in the borough.

Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste said: ''This review of how we collect statistics for fly-tipping was incredibly important because it means people are able to see a much more accurate reflection of the problems our communities face.

''We all know the damage caused by those who flout the law to illegally dump rubbish. The impact these criminals have on the lives of our residents and the environment is costly, unsightly and damaging to the environment.

''The council will always prosecute offenders where it can and we have a successful track record of doing so. It is essential people report incidents to us and provide us with any information they can to help us take the action we know the community wants.''

The new way of recording dumped rubbish means that, in the first quarter of 2024, the number of incidents now included amounted to more than the total of fly tips recorded last year. This shows the amount of work the council undertakes on a daily basis to remove dumped waste from the borough's streets.

The problem of fly-tipping faced by the council mirrors that of local authorities across the country and the council believes that education and encouraging people to change behaviour is as important as enforcement. And Great Yarmouth Borough Council recently changed its bulky waste collection charges, charging per item so residents only pay for what they use.

Councillor Wells said: ''Unfortunately, there is a perception among some people that if they dump waste it will be picked up by our crews. We are working hard to educate people so they better understand how collections work and what is and what is not acceptable.

''Those who fly-tip cause huge damage and cost to the community and environment and we know the vast majority of our residents will be supportive in any actions we can take to reduce the amount of illegally dumped waste. Our teams work incredibly hard to try to keep the borough tidy, but we can only be successful with the support of the community and people behaving responsibly.''

Great Yarmouth Borough Council's environment rangers investigate reports of fly-tipping and offenders face an unlimited fine and/or a jail sentence under the Environmental Protection Act.

Fly-tipping in the borough can be reported via the Love Clean Streets app or website, via email at environmentalrangers@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or by calling 01493 846478.

Read more about waste and recycling services in the borough here: https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling