A cross-party group of Councillors commenced a series of meetings earlier this week to consider fly-tipping, litter and related problems on the Isle of Wight.
The group aims to produce a report and action plan later in the year to ensure that the Isle of Wight Council deals as effectively and efficiently as possible with the problem of fly-tipping on the Island. Many Islanders in recent months have said that restrictions at Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh need to be removed, enabling the tips to operate as they did pre-COVID, but it remains to be seen if this is an action councillors will take.
Statistics show that the Island actually has one of the lowest rates of fly-tipping activity in the South East of England and that fly-tipping rates on the Island have remained fairly constant for the last few years, says the group. However, Island Echo reported last month that fly-tipping has actually gone up 30% on the Island from 575 in 2019/20 to 749 in 2020/21 – https://www.islandecho.co.uk/fly-tipping-incidents-up-30-on-the-isle-of-wight-according-to-new-figures/.
The group has considered existing powers and finds that while these generally appear adequate to deal with fly-tipping issues, the procedures that exist need to be simplified and communicated better to members of the public so that when problems arise they can be dealt with more quickly.
Councillor Suzie Ellis, Ward Councillor for Central Rural, has said:
“A particular issue that was considered was the appropriate disposal of dog waste. There is a lot of public concern about dog poo not being disposed of properly, and whilst we would like to thank the many dog owners who currently deal responsibly with dog poo, we would remind residents that dog poo can be disposed of in any general waste bin – including your black bin at home. ‘Bag that Poo – Any Bin Will Do’.
“It is encouraging to see that we are already doing well when it comes to fly-tipping and litter – with improved procedures and better public communication I hope that we can do even better for our Island, we all have a responsibility to care for our environment.”
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Heritage and Waste, adds:
“We have a lot of good practice on the Island but we can still improve the system dealing with fly-tipping on the Island. We need to develop the system so that it is easier to understand and engage with it.
“We also need to work on public education. The ‘Any Bin Will Do’ campaign is a prime example. It is annoying to see general waste bins with dog poo bags placed next to them when they can actually be put into the bin.
“I am looking forward to the Group producing a report that will help deal with these and other issues and help enhance the streets and countryside in our Island Biosphere”
Stop being so greedy. We pay extortionate council tax for services you don’t give or have made very difficult to us. You open and close services after tax payers go to work and close them before taxpayers finish work.
Its not hard to work out and you really don’t need meetings after meeting’s to understand were you lot have messed up.
The next one will be garden waste after you take even more for the green bins so it will be garden fires you will be having meetings about and trying to work out why, well this is simple. Stop ripping us off and things will change. Stop making things difficult and things will change.
You are absolutely right Stephen, an increase of 30% of fly tipping during the pandemic years has to be down to the tips not being open when the public are able to use them due to work commitments. The council needs to go back to pre pandemic opening times and stop the booking system after all there is no longer a lock down and we are being told we need to learn to live with this virus.
After reading this it’s quite clear the ‘group’ doesn’t have a clue what it’s doing, and is actively denying the real reasons for the fly tipping or the fact it’s increased. Instead trying to divert your attention with dog poo.
All those lockdown sausage parties doing them no good.
Perhaps we should dump our rubbish on the steps of county hall, would they wake up and smell the error or their ways then?
Making us book to go to the dump and now increasing our garden bin price on top of another Council Tax rise is not helping the situation, we need encouragement not punishment for properly disposing of our rubbish.
I don’t find the booking system for the tip a problem, I’d rather that than sitting in a traffic tail back waiting to go in. Some of the stuff that people dump could be sorted and sold off cheap for anyone that wanted to upcycle, I saw a tip on the mainland that had a shop area attached.
These campaigns they do are a waste of time. Offenders offend until they are caught and reprimanded. It is the enforcement/reporting system which is deficient, and the council is responsible for this.
Regarding the tip, why not just introduce a couple of days with extended hours to help people out. And see how that goes. These people seem incapable of doing anything practical.
With number plate recognition and CCT camera’s why not leave them open 24/7, commercial waste could be picked up from number plates and charged accordingly. The booking system is bad not everyone plans ahead like many people who seem to have a social calendar based around runs to the tip.
Any bin will do – dog poo in green bin ?will stop whole truck load being used for recycling. Don’t want to my recycled water bottle now.
Councillors are told only what officers want then to know, often lies and distortion of reality. Fly tipping now often not reported as we know nothing is done to the tippers.