Waste – Unauthorised / harmful disposal or ‘Fly-tipping’

 

Forestry Commission land is regularly used as a dumping ground for rogue fly tippers. Hundreds of fly tipping incidents a year are uncovered throughout the forests of Wales, costing the FC and the tax payer hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Not only is this sort of crime costly it is unsightly and a hazard to people, the environment and wildlife. Forestry Commission staff have found various types of fly tipped rubbish including car tyres (in their hundreds), asbestos, carpets, builders rubble, household waste, white goods and even dead animal carcass. Some of the waste ‘illegally dumped’ could have been easily deposited at local authority amenity sites or even placed out with the bins.

Since the secondment of a police officer to Forestry Commission Wales at Coed Y Cymoedd (South Wales District), joint police, Environment Agency and Local Authority operations and investigations have taken place. ‘Hot spot’ areas in and around FC land have been the subject of covert surveillance operations. The operations have already led to the identity and the arrests of fly tippers and as a result a reduction in fly tipping in some areas.

So what does the law say in relation to fly tipping?

Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 prohibits the unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment or disposal of waste.

33(1) Subject to subsection (2) and (3), a person must not:

(a) deposit controlled waste, or knowingly cause or knowingly permit it to be deposited in or on any land unless a waste management license authorising the deposit is in force and the deposit is in accordance with the licence;

(b) treat, keep or dispose of controlled waste, or knowingly cause or knowingly permit it to be treated, kept or disposed of:

(i) in or on any land, or

(ii) By means of any mobile plant.

Except under and in accordance with a waste management licence;

(c) treat, keep or dispose of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.

A person can be arrested without warrant and if convicted receive six months imprisonment and / or a fine not exceeding £50,000, on indictment for a term not exceeding five years and / or a fine.

Who do I contact if I have information about fly tipping?

If you have any information regarding fly tipping or you suspect somebody of fly tipping on FC land in South Wales contact:

PC 3753 Andrew Scourfield (Forest Crime Officer) in confidence on 0845 604 0845, or you can e-mail forestwatch@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.

Alternatively, contact the Environment Agency hot line on 0800 80 70 60, or your local authority Waste Enforcement Team.

In an emergency phone the police on 999.