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Connaught address the issue of fly tipping
Project: Street and asset cleaning
Client: Mendip District Council
Location: Mendip, Somerset
Duration: 6 years
Value: £6m
Challenge
Fly tipping is a serious environmental problem which Mendip Council is dedicated in combating. It is illegal and punishable by a fine of up to £20,000, but prosecutions are rare as it is very difficult to get a clear cut case against an offender and it is very expensive. So Mendip wanted to ramp up the provision of prevention, education and front line activities to address the problem.
Solution
To fight fly tipping and boost prosecution in the area a new scheme was set up with Connaught working alongside Mendip DC, the Police and the Environment Agency. Connaught investigates fly tips for evidence and if successful in finding names and addresses, which can be directly linked to the fly tip, we issue warning letters on behalf of Mendip DC.
We have a quick reaction time with an average of seven clean ups every day. Fly tips include items such as general household waste, white goods, builders’ rubble, green waste, commercial waste and even vehicle parts.
An area of repeated dumping of vehicle tyres, at Porchestal Drove in Glastonbury, has stopped altogether due to daily visits. By varying when we patrol these areas, would-be fly tippers cannot time their activities with any certainty. Thus changing the culture and mind set of offenders.
Outcome
Within the first six months we made an impact on clearing 200 regular sites used for fly tipping and enabled the issue of 10 letters. This eventually helped Mendip DC win the Cleanest District in Britain Award in 2007, issued by the British Cleaning Council.
Stuart Finney, team leader for Street Scene at Mendip DC says:
“Connaught is at the front line and one of their strengths is the way they liaise with the rest of my team. Good and fast communication is essential. Connaught is a great contractor for Mendip partly because of the excellent working relationship that my team has with them. I am always confident that they will go the extra mile and get on with the job even if sometimes it is outside their remit. That is what I think good service is all about.”
Working alongside our partners, we have helped reduce repeat offenders and cleared nearly 1,300 fly tips in the last year alone. That’s over 100 sites every month.
