Will tip charges see fly-tipping surge?

The local tip has been the way to get rid of the clutter in your home or the rubbish generated from a project for decades. But with free usage of local recycling centres coming to an end, is an increase in fly-tipping the inevitable result?

In Hampshire, tip changes have hit with a big impact and residents have been vocal in their uncertainty about the plans. Councils across the country are looking to their tips as ways to both save and gain money simultaneously. Introducing charges while slashing opening hours will be the new normal for tips up and down the country.

Fly tipping in the UK

Between 2014 and 2015 In the UK, actions resulting from fly-tipping cost local authorities £10.4m across over half a million incidents.

With fly-tipping expected to rise once tips begin charging, it’s worth noting that over half a million pounds in fines were given out in 2014-15 in relation to these incidents.

A fine can be issued to the original owner of the waste, even if they are not the one who fly-tipped it.

But how do you avoid becoming one of these statistics when simply paying a company to dispose of your waste could land you with one of these fines?

The Environment Agency has a public register where you can check for businesses that are registered to carry waste. Using their registered business name, you can check that a company is on the list of licensed waste operators.

Another good way to ensure you’re working with a legitimate company is to ask for a waste transfer notice. Having official records of how a company has disposed of waste can protect you from fines, and only trustworthy companies will keep this documentation.

HIPPO, the leading national rubbish removal and waste disposal specialist, is 100% committed to reducing fly tipping across the UK.

Tip changes

Charges to dispose of certain types of waste have been introduced in tips around the UK, including Hampshire and Surrey.

Tips are facing more than one challenge as a result of the steep council budget cuts. You could also face reduced opening hours or require extra paperwork when you next visit your local recycling centre.

Be sure to contact your local tip before you next take a trip to avoid ending up with a car full of waste you can’t get rid of. People can visit Gov.uk to check their local tip and find out how the updates will affect their region.

Though there is no direct legislation telling councils to enforce these charges, cuts to overall budgets have many councils looking to the tip as the answer. This service, once a helpful convenience for all, is being slowly deconstructed. Make sure you don’t get blindsided with charges as a result of the changes; always check you’re using a credible company that is registered to deal with waste.

Photo by James Byrum