A seasonal increase in the level of fly-tipping and dumping over the festive holidays, will be met with a robust enforcement response, ABC Borough Council has warned.
Council officers who are now being supported by additional new District Enforcement Officers, will issue fines of £400 for those found responsible. Each year, thousands of pounds are spent cleaning up illegally dumped material which can often have a detrimental impact on the environment and the local wildlife.
Already this year, more than a dozen offenders have been fined or faced court action as a result of illegal dumping. Council officers want people to stop and think before fly-tipping and they are urging them to plan ahead for the Christmas holidays when they may need to clear out additional material from their homes.
Any excess waste which cannot fit into your own bin can be taken to the Council’s Recycling Centres which will be open on a number of days during the holiday period – residents can check these opening times through the Council’s website and on the ABC Council App.
Large items of furniture, white goods (fridges etc), garden equipment, wood, fixtures and fittings etc can be collected for a charge of £10.20 for up to three items and £20.40 for up to six items, with a maximum of six items per year. There are some exceptions to what we lift, no American fridge freezers, glass items, and wood has to have screws/nails removed and bundled together if possible.
A council spokesperson said: “There really is no excuse for fly-tipping or dumping at any time of year, but every Christmas season we do see an increase in offences and that is why we appealing directly to those people who may consider doing this.
“This year, we have already had great success in catching those responsible and now with additional District Enforcement Officers on board, the chances of getting caught are even higher. For the sake of a trip to the local recycling centre, is it really worth a £400 fine?”
They added: “We also want to thank the public for their help in reporting fly-tipping. This information is really helping us crackdown on offenders and protect our local environment.”
Further information on the waste collection services provided by Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council can be obtained by telephoning 0300 0300 900, or on the council’s website at www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk and the ABC Council App.
Members of the public can report fly-tipping incidents via the ABC Council App which is available to download on the App store and Google Play store, or by calling the Council’s Environmental Health team directly on 0300 0300 900.
