Forum Topic

Labour Flytipping Policy

Correct me if I'm wrong:Two Labour-led councils: Hounslow and Ealing.The former penalizes you £1000 for putting a broken down cardboard box (or letter) next to an overflowing recycling bin meant to service your home.The latter penalizes you £616 when you're caught on video dumping multiple boxes directly on the pavement.Apart from the appalling Hounslow "policy" why is it cheaper to fly tip in Ealing?

David Lesniak ● 2d3 Comments

Some people seem to expect some sort of butler service to help them.  They arrive at the recycling centres without even emptying the boxes first and taking the polystyrene or other plastic packaging out as if the concept of separating different materials so that they can be easily sorted and baled for further attention just doesn't even seem to have crossed their minds.  All we are asked to do beforehand is a simple initial sort.I reckon we should get the kids to give the adults a masterclass in how to dismantle a cardboard box by just stripping off the tape at the bottom so that it can be either flattened for collection and transportation or storage - or reformed back into a useful box again by just sticking tape across those bottom flap edges once again.  That is for the majority of boxes - there are a few others which are more complicated.  You may have to tear them apart to fit into a bin but that isn't excruciatingly hard for most people!  With many deliveries you can ask for the packaging to be taken away.I keep being told it has to be easy - but how easy?  I am beginning to think that is just an excuse and it just means easy as clicking your fingers and getting someone else to do everything for you.You may well be able to find someone who is moving house and wants boxes - they sometimes advertise asking for them - on local websites.  Just don't EVER leave your address on anything - and most people caught once are far less likely to do so again - unless of course they are a publicity seeker.If waste is traced back to you then you can be taken to court and fined.  So always make sure that you use a registered licensed waste collector.  Just because someone offers to take your unwanted things away for money doesn't mean that they are licensed and Councils have been told they should arrange for more vans used by unlicensed waste collectors to be crushed.When you see some of the extreme flytipping such as that in Kidlington which just has to be as a result of organised crime and the millions it costs us all to get it cleared up we should be thinking a lot more about disposing of our waste responsibly and alerting the authorities to any suspicious behaviour.   

Philippa Bond ● 16h

It can be expensive to drop an envelope next to a waste bin in Hounslow (if you are seen) but that’s never going to happen (again) and people are continually dropping litter next to waste bins even when the bin is empty. However this is mainly done when the bins are already overflowing. Hounslow just can’t get it together to empty bins regularly. They have no procedure to empty hotspot bins  more regularly than bins in ‘quieter’ areas. Regarding flytipping it seems like a free for all. There are serial fly tippers but nothing is done about them. Clearing the flytipping is a free service for Flytippers it seems.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Not sure if your question is rhetorical or not David!As you may be aware £1000 is the maximum they are allowed to fine you for fly tipping. It used to be £400 until last year I think.Obviously different boroughs have different policies.e.g.https://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/s132916/Amendments%20to%20FPN%20charges%20report.pdfPossibly there is something similar for LBE and LBH.I totally agree that penalizing someone £1000 for putting down a broken down cardboard box as you described is excessive.

Andrew Jones ● 2d