Fly-tipping near epidemic proportions

FLY-tipping is reaching almost epidemic proportions – that was the word from the Environment Agency as The Evening Star's campaign to Dump the Dumpers gets under way.

And to prove the point, environment officer Andy Hunkin took an Evening Star photographer to the entrance of the Sproughton sewage works.

Pointing out the collection of twisted plastic, old clothes and general household rubbish dumped on the grass, he said: "There are sites like this all over the place."

The Environment Agency, which has just launched a new initiative to combat fly-tipping, has welcomed the Star campaign.

It is determined to put a stop to the trend of dumping before the county is submerged in a sea of rubbish.

Environment officer John Farrow said: "Fly-tipping is becoming increasingly serious – it is nearly at epidemic levels.

"Last year the Environment Agency, together with the district councils, saw a 19 per cent increase in fly-tipping and this year it is definitely increasing. We see people doing it in any piece of quiet land."

Ipswich in particular is subject to fly-tipping –particular hot-spots are Piper Mill Lane, the Old Norwich Road and the Bramford area.

Mr Farrow said: "The civic amenity sites are a bit restrictive – obviously they don't take everything. They don't take tyres, car parts or batteries. They also don't take trade waste – people should go to a landfill site or hire a skip. But they would then have to pay."

But the Environment Agency is now trying to crack down on fly-tipping.

The organisation's first step is to identify dumping hotspots and then set up cameras in those areas to try and catch people in the act.

It also plans to make people more aware of where they can safely dispose of their rubbish.

If you want to report fly-tipping, phone the Star hotline on 01473 324788, the Cleaner Ipswich hotline on 01473 433000 or the Environment Agency's 24-hour line on 0800 807060.