BARNSLEY Council is continuing to squash the problem of fly tipping, and this week it exercised new powers to do so.
In the first example of a flytipper’s vehicle being seized and destroyed, the council crushed a car that was caught being used to illegally dump rubbish.
The car, a Saab 93, was tracked down and seized after being spotted on new CCTV cameras installed in a flytipping hotspot in Wombwell.
Mark Giles, council services manager, said: “We want to send a clear message out to those people who choose to flytip, within Barnsley and elsewhere, that robust action will be taken.
“This is the first one we have crushed and we’re prepared for it to be the first of many, as there are more flytippers currently under investigation.
“Since March we have had a big push of increased activity, we have recently started to use the power to seize vehicles and we have already seized five vehicles in that short time.”
New powers granted to the council mean it can seize a vehicle that is suspected to have been used for flytipping, used by an illegal waste carrier, or used at a site that breaks the rules of an environmental permit.
The owner is then given 15 days to claim the vehicle, by supplying the council with a valid log book and insurance certificate.
If the vehicle is not claimed, it is destroyed, sold or reused.
Carolyn Nicholls, case management officer, said: “This is what we are doing, we have got to take a zero tolerance stance against flytippers and waste carriers.
“We have nine case officers all dealing with flytipping, that’s the extent of the problem, as well as the cost to the council and the detrimental effect on our borough.
“If we can cut the clean-up costs by half, it’s already a massive achievement.
“We’re also targeting the unlicensed waste collectors who are making money from other people’s waste and then not disposing of it properly, people who are advertising on social media who haven’t got a licence, and we’d also like to stress to people not to pay an unlicensed waste carrier.
“We are going to continue to use the cameras and gather evidence, because without evidence and witnesses we can’t convict people.
“We’re constantly trying to come up with different ways to outwit fly tippers.”
Coun Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesman for communities, said: “We’re taking a tough stance on the minority of people who think fly tipping is acceptable.
“As part of our #EverybodyThink campaign to protect the environment, we’re using CCTV to identify those responsible for illegal fly tipping - we’re watching you, Dumpit and Scarper.
“If you choose to dump rubbish illegally and spoil the environment then you risk losing your vehicle permanently.
“You could also lose your driving licence and get a hefty fine in court.”
n In relation to this instance of flytipping, two men are due in magistrates’ court.
