PRESS RELEASES

 Tuesday, 18th October 2005

Government Must Do More to Stop Fly Tipping

Fly-tipping is now costing almost £1 million a week to clear-up, with waste dumped somewhere every 35 seconds, according to new data released by Defra today. Much of what is dumped, 55%, is household waste almost half of which is in black bags. Local authorities and the Environment Agency have been granted new powers to recover costs from offenders, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act which come in to force today, the act will also give local authorities more effective investigatory powers to catch fly-tippers, while landowners and occupiers who have had to clear fly-tipped waste can also recover clearance costs.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

Tony Blair is presiding over a throwaway Britain at the expense of its environment. The Government has simply failed to get on top of the problem of fly tipping, as these figures demonstrate. There is a need for greater enforcement and effective prosecution over those who are destroying the countryside and the environment.

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. Largest proportions of waste are dumped in Greater London (29%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (22%);  Dumping on highways is much higher than the national average in Greater London (75% of all incidences there), whereas dumping in back-alleys are most common in the North East (43% of incidences there) and the North West (48%) More: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051018a.htm
2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm