Charges for disposing of DIY waste could be axed as part of a crackdown on fly-tipping.
More cameras could also be installed following a huge increase in offences during the pandemic. Fly-tipping is a crime which blights communities, poses a risk to public health and the environment, and costs up to £392 million a year.
Local authorities dealt with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents in 2020/21, up by 16% from 2019/20. There were also over 60,000 fly-tipping incidents with construction, demolition and excavation material in 2020/21, an increase of 18% from 2019/20.
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As part of the crackdown, the government announced households will no longer have to pay to get rid of DIY waste. Council charges of up to £10 to remove and dispose of individual items such as plasterboards, bricks and bath units could end under the new Government proposals. Some authorities in England will get grants to tackle fly-tipping through trial projects including CCTV to target hotspots.
Fly-tipping continues to blight Merseyside. Earlier this month, items including couches, prams, mattresses, family photographs, and even a Christmas card were found abandoned at Ford Cemetery in Bootle.
The pile was discovered by James Day during his weekly visit to his brother's grave. He said it looked liked someone had "dumped their whole house right in the middle of the cemetery."
Last month, over in H ale Village, "ridiculous" fly-tippers were slammed for dumping a mound of rubbish and blocking a busy road. Over in Bootle, a back alley was littered with so much rubbish it because infested with rats.
Images seen by the ECHO revealed the rubbish covered the whole alley at the back of Smollett Street, leaving it completely out of bounds for residents. One resident said they were "embarrassed" at the rubbish and feared for their safety due to the risks of someone setting the rubbish on fire.
As part of the new plans announced on April 11, a call for evidence on the use of booking systems at recycling centres will be launched, some of which were brought in when restrictions were imposed during the pandemic, amid concerns these could be making it harder for people to dispose of their waste and increasing the risk of fly-tipping.
A a number of councils in England will also be awarded grants to tackle fly-tipping through trial projects, including CCTV to target hotspots. The new council grants totalling £450,000 will help a range of projects including CCTV and delivering education.
Environment Minister Jo Churchill said: "When it comes to fly-tipping, enough is enough. These appalling incidents cost us £392 million a year and it is time to put a stop to them. I want to make sure that recycling and the correct disposal of rubbish is free, accessible and easy for householders. No one should be tempted to fly tip or turn to waste criminals and rogue operators."
Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Jacob Hayler, added: "There is no single ‘silver bullet’ to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping so we are pleased to see the Government announcing a range of new measures today to help deter this deeply anti-social criminal behaviour."
