AN ‘ON-THE-SPOT’ £400 fine for fly-tipping has been issued by Rugby Borough Council for the first time.
Officers from the council’s environmental protection team issued the borough’s first fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping in Brinklow – just weeks after new powers were introduced by the Government to crack down on waste dumping.
The new powers, which came into force on May 9, allow councils to issue fines of up to £400 for small-scale offences, from fly-tipping old fridges and sofas to dumping garden waste or rubble.
An unlimited fine – or even a year in jail – could be the punishment for anyone who fails to pay the fine within 14 days.
And fly-tippers brought before crown court can face up to five years behind bars.
Rugby Borough Council’s environment spokeswoman Coun Lisa Parker said: “These new powers provide us with another weapon in the fight against fly-tipping, allowing us to save time and money by dealing with small-scale offences with an on-the-spot fine rather than taking offenders to court.
“The threat of receiving a fixed penalty notice should also act as a wake-up call to selfish individuals who feel it’s acceptable to dump unwanted furniture or appliances by the road.
“It blights our neighbourhoods, costs taxpayers thousands of pounds a year in clean-up costs and threatens the livelihoods of legitimate businesses who dispose of waste in accordance with the law.
“We operate a zero-tolerance policy on fly-tipping in the borough and residents can rest assured we’ll have no hesitation in using all powers at our disposal to deal with the issue.”
The council offers a bulky waste collection service to residents of the borough. The service includes the collection of furniture and household appliances. Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/bulkywaste or call (01788) 533332 for more information.
Residents can report fly-tipping online at www.rugby.gov.uk/reportaproblem or by calling (01788) 533857.
