Are Increased Fines for Flytipping Ahead?

By theorkneynews on December 14, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

A doubling of fines for flytipping are amongst the proposals being put forward in a new consultation launched by the Scottish Government into littering and the illegal dumping of waste.

The consultation runs until 31 March 2022

Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Terry A’Hearn, said:

“Fly-tipping is not only immoral, it is illegal and waste crime poses a risk not only to human health and the environment, but also to urban and rural businesses, and communities. Waste dumped illegally in laybys, rural locations or holes in the ground, instead of being disposed of in the correct manner, means criminals are avoiding having to pay the costs a legal operator has to pay.

“Tackling waste crime is a priority for SEPA, and the information collected from this consultation could mean better sharing and co-ordination of flytipping data between us and partners, helping us manage our responses better.”

SEPA officer at fly tipping site in Fort William

Fines for flytipping could be increased from £200 to £500 – the maximum permitted by current legislation. The consultation also asks if they should be raised beyond this cap.

Lorna Slater, Circular Economy Minister in the Scottish Government, said:

“We want a Scotland that is free of the blight of litter and flytipping. That’s why we’re asking for views on a bold set of measures that could help make our streets, parks and public spaces free of rubbish.

“Litter and flytipping are not just a blight on local communities – they also cost millions of pounds every year in clean-up costs. We need to send a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“We also need to understand why anti-litter measures are still not reaching some people. To address that, we are proposing not just a one off campaign, but a sustained push, backed by new research into why people litter.

“We also want to make better use of data to clamp down on illegal dumping. By understanding more about where and when flytipping takes place, we can be more effective in targeting interventions to stop it.”