Residents are being urged not to dump waste beside charity bring banks after South Cambridgeshire District Council fined 24 people for fly-tipping at one site.
The recycling bank area in the Cambourne Morrisons car park, outside Home Bargains, was the subject of repeated dumping involving bags of recycling, rubbish and other unwanted items being left next to the banks when they were full.
Vacuum cleaners, TVs, mattresses, furniture and child seats – none of which could have been recycled via the small bring banks even if they were not full – were among the items dumped. The bring banks have recently been removed following the fly-tipping.
In response, the Council's Envirocrimes Enforcement Team is now carrying out visits to charity and recycling bank sites across South Cambridgeshire – speaking with people using them and giving advice. The aim is to help keep these areas clean and tidy, identify any emerging problems early, and work with site operators to reduce the risk of waste being left beside the banks.
Dumping items beside recycling or charity banks is fly-tipping and can result in being fined or prosecuted.
Over the past two years, Council Envirocrimes Officers took significant enforcement action at the Cambourne site, including issuing 14 fly-tipping Fixed Penalty Notices, eight littering Fixed Penalty Notices and seven warning letters. The Council has also brought six prosecutions, issued two Duty of Care Fixed Penalty Notices and is investigating a further 11 cases.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Laurence Damary-Homan, said: "We know people in Cambourne were frustrated by rubbish being left beside these bring banks and it is an issue nationally. Most residents use them responsibly, they provide income for good causes, and they're a convenient recycling option. But leaving items next to full bring banks or dumping unwanted goods is fly-tipping and is simply not acceptable. If there is no room in a container, please take your items home and return another day or use a Household Recycling Centre. If they get misused, they'll be removed as we've seen in Cambourne.
"Our officers investigate to identify those responsible wherever possible, and we will continue to issue fines and pursue prosecutions where we can. At the same time, our Envirocrimes Enforcement Team is carrying out visits to recycling and charity bank sites across South Cambridgeshire to help keep them clean and tidy. Fly-tipping harms communities and the environment. We will continue to investigate incidents and take action against offenders to protect South Cambridgeshire."
Leaving waste beside recycling and charity banks creates an eyesore, can attract further dumping and vermin, and places an unnecessary burden on those responsible for maintaining the site.
In a joint statement, District Councillors for Cambourne – Cllr Michael Booth, Cllr Helene Leeming and Cllr Amber Thomas – commented: “Most people in Cambourne take pride in our town and are thoroughly sick of seeing fly-tipping. Not only is it an eyesore and a public health issue, it also comes at a cost to local taxpayers and businesses, who ultimately have to pay for the waste to be cleared up. Fly-tipping wastes people’s time and money and takes resources away from other priorities.
That’s why the Council is taking action against those who fly-tip, including issuing fines where offenders are identified. As Cambourne’s local representatives we hope this sends a clear message that fly-tipping has a real cost to our community. We all have a responsibility to dispose of our waste properly and keep Cambourne clean.”
Residents are encouraged to check there is space available before depositing items and to take any materials away with them if the containers are full. Household Recycling Centres across Cambridgeshire can be used to recycle a huge range of items.
Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping can report it to South Cambridgeshire District Council online.
Across the UK, rising costs and fly-tipping have led many textile recycling operators to reduce the number of collection banks they manage. There is also the option of reuse before recycling. Unwanted clothes, bedding, shoes and accessories that are still in good condition can often be donated to charity shops, sold through second-hand platforms, given away via local community groups, or passed on through retailer take-back schemes where available.
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