Our fly tipping clearance service helps address the problem of the illegal dumping of waste by properly disposing of all such material.
Taking care of our physical environment is becoming a bigger priority for many people. And while there’s much focus on the bigger picture of climate change or microplastic contamination in the sea, concerns start at a local level. Take littering for example. It can be unsightly and unhygienic, whether it’s a dropped newspaper, a discarded sandwich wrapper, or a ditched facemask. But when littering tips over into illegal dumping and fly tipping, more problems arise for residents and businesses. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at our fly tipping clearance service – and why it’s so important.
What exactly is fly tipping?
Illegal dumping, also called fly tipping, is typically distinguished from littering by the type and amount of material, as well as the way it’s discarded. An example of littering could be throwing a cigarette on the ground. In contrast, emptying a rubbish bin with no permission in a public or private area can be classified as fly tipping.
The main criterion for fly tipping is where dumping of waste fails to use an authorised method, such as kerbside collection or using a council-run waste facility. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, including waste dumped or tipped on a site with no license to accept waste. Typical materials dumped include building materials from construction sites (such as drywall, roofing shingles, lumber, brick, concrete, and siding), car parts, household appliances, household waste, furniture, and medical waste.
Why is fly tipping such a problem?
The effects of fly tipping include health, environmental, and economic consequences. The correct collection and disposal of waste is essential to protect the public and the environment from health and safety risks. While legal waste disposal locations, such as landfills, are designed to contain waste and prevent its by-products from affecting the surrounding environment, illegal dumping areas do not typically incorporate the same safeguards. This includes hazardous and biological material that may have come into contact with or been infected by microbiological and pathological waste. Toxins or hazardous materials can infiltrate soil and drinking water and threaten the health of residents, with both short- and long-term health conditions.
Illegal dumps pose a physical threat. Unstable piles of material and exposed nails threaten harm to humans, specifically children who may be attracted to illegal dumps as play areas. They also attract vermin and insects. Outbreaks of fire at illegal dump sites can lead to forest fires, causing erosion and destroying habitat. Fly tipping also negatively affects surrounding property values. Unattractive and odorous accumulations of waste discourage commercial and residential developers from improving communities. Indeed, existing residents may have difficulty taking pride in their neighbourhoods.
A new strategy for dealing with fly tipping in the UK?
Given the sheer volume of waste produced in the UK, it’s no wonder waste disposal is heavily regulated. Government statistics show the UK produced 222.2 million tonnes of waste across all sources in 2018. Under the National Waste Strategy, there are moves towards sustainability in waste management. Of course, there has been progress in moving away from landfill toward recycling. To drive people to recycle and save space in landfill, local councils sometimes refuse to empty bins which are improperly sorted. In addition, commercial or industrial users may incur waste handling charges, with taxes applied to landfill. But worryingly, the recycling rate for waste from households fell in 2020.
The government estimates the total cost of fly tipping in the UK at £392 million a year. Local authorities dealt with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents in 2020/21, up by 16% from 2019/20. This was partly driven by the closure of some waste facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Encouragingly, the government announced plans to crack down on fly tipping in April 2022, including changes to charges for households to dispose of DIY waste, and grant funding for local authorities to prevent fly tipping.
How REACT’s fly tipping clearance addresses the problem
One key observation when it comes to fly tipping is that waste attracts more waste. So, as well as prevention, cleaning up existing illegal dumping sites is a helpful deterrent for additional dumping. That’s where our fly tipping clearance service comes into its own. We provide a nationwide fly tipping clearance service, and we’re available around the clock. Our team are well trained, medically fit, properly equipped, and fully inoculated. We operate to industry-leading standards such as BS-EN-ISO 9001:2018 and ISO14001 for Environmental Management. And we’re an upper-tier licensed waste carrier. We can also provide comprehensive decontamination services to address any issues in the areas affected by the illegal disposal of hazardous materials.
We’ll clear fly tipping sites quickly and effectively, so residents can have clean and safe public spaces in their localities. Action on the environment really does start at the local level.
For details of the government plans to crack down on fly tipping, see this article from GOV.uk: >>
To find out more about REACT Specialist Cleaning and our fly tipping clearance service, contact one of the team today.
Telephone: 01283 550 503
Email: info@reactplc.co.uk
Website: www.reactsc.co.uk
Post by Shaun D. Doak
Shaun is the CEO of REACT Group plc., a business dedicated to specialist cleaning, hygiene, and decontamination. He is deeply committed to making sure that every one of our company’s clients receives the highest possible level of service. An expert in HVAC and commercial and industrial cleaning methodologies, Shaun has extensive experience in the facilities management and renewable services sector.