Sharp increase in fly tipping across Lichfield

In recent weeks, the council’s street cleansing team has been busy removing more fly-tipping from across the district, including household, garden and commercial waste.

When compared with the same period last year, April has seen up to a 25 percent increase in fly tipping incidences on roads and public spaces. Fly tipping on private land also went up in April, with a 30 percent increase in reports from the same time last year.

Councillor Angela Lax, cabinet member for legal and regulatory services, said: “We know the vast majority of our residents are responsible with their waste, and will be just as disappointed as we are to hear of the increase in fly-tipping that we’re experiencing at the moment.

“It’s really important to keep the district tidy, and our teams have been working hard to retain a full waste and recycling collection service. Our crews have been overwhelmed by the positive response and support from residents and we know most people are doing their very best at this challenging time.

“I take encouragement that the government has asked councils across the country to prepare to reopen household recycling centres, and I know that Staffordshire County Council is working on its plan for re-opening their centres with social distancing measures in place. Although I am aware that other areas have seen large queues at these facilities, I am sure reopening the centres will help to relieve much of the pressure on our service and we hope to see them back up and running soon.

“In the meantime, we know many households have been having spring cleans and I’d like to thank you for holding onto any extra rubbish that can’t go in your bins until the recycling centres reopen. This is obviously outside of our control and thank you for your patience. There is also the option to pay for a waste company to take any rubbish away, checking first that they are correctly licensed as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency and always asking for a receipt.”

To help stamp out fly-tipping, if you see anything suspicious or spot it across the district, report it to the council online at lichfielddc.gov.uk/report or by calling 01543 308999.

The council is continuing to operate its bulky waste collection service for large items of furniture. To find out more, go to lichfielddc.gov.uk/bulkywaste.