Wokingham Borough Council is cracking down hard on fly-tipping by today launching a new campaign reminding offenders that, ‘We Are Watching.’ We are committed to keeping the borough clean and green and hope you can support our mission to clamp down on criminals.
We routinely inspect all fly-tips for evidence of where it came from and use CCTV to monitor hotspot areas. So far this year, 45 people have had to pay a fixed penalty of either £80 or £400 because their waste was dumped illegally.
As part of the, ‘We Are Watching’ campaign, you can help by letting us know of any illegal dumping you see by reporting it directly to us. You can share information, location details and photos confidentially online. We have used information provided by you to successfully identify and fine perpetrators.
Fly-tipping cost the borough £150,000 in this last year alone, and there were 1,298 incidents of illegal dumping across the borough between 2019 and 2020. In addition, 20 tonnes of rubbish was cleared from the A329M.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and will not hesitate to take action against this criminal and anti-social behaviour. We Are Watching – and we will prosecute”.
“We know our residents take pride in our borough’s clean neighbourhoods and beautiful green spaces. Each and every one of us can play our part in tackling this issue by reporting fly-tipping and disposing of our own household items responsibly.”
Please also remember that, ‘your waste, is your responsibility’ meaning you must ensure all your household rubbish is disposed of properly and legally. Whether you’ve recently had a new kitchen or bathroom installed or have simply had a clear-out, take reasonable steps to check that anyone you use to remove waste from your property is authorised. Failure to do so could also land you with a fine. Use the waste carrier quick check tool on the Environment Agency’s website or visit the Right Waste Right Place website to help you check.
You can dispose of your waste and recycling at the recycling centres at Longshot Lane, Bracknell, or Smallmead, Reading which are open. Visit the re3website for more details. You can also make use of our large unwanted items service, which collects a wide range of goods from carpets to washing machines. You can dispose of up to five large items for a charge of £56 using this service. Find out more here.
If you own a business in the borough, remember you also have a legal duty of care to safely dispose of your waste and within the law. This means you should ensure you have documented waste disposal arrangements in place. Further information can be found on our website.
