- 07/11/2017
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
Councils in Wales are now able to issue fines for fly-tipping incidents.
Mike Hedges AM said… I greatly welcome these new powers for local authorities – people with waste to dispose of will now be under much greater pressure to comply with the law and dispose of their waste appropriately. I hope that Local authorities use these powers to make examples of people to show others that they face fines etc. if they do not dispose of their waste appropriately. If people have knowledge of people fly tipping I would urge them to report matters to the authorities so that action can be taken and fines imposed.
Last week, the National Assembly for Wales approved the Unauthorised Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) (Wales) Regulations 2017 (external link). It followed a public consultation, earlier this year, which revealed overwhelming support in favour of the new powers.
Local Authorities are now able to set a fixed penalty amount between £150 and £400, with a default of £200 where no amount is specified. A reduction for early payment can be made available and Local Authorities can retain the receipts to help contribute to the costs of dealing with fly-tipping. The Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) can be applied on both publicly and privately owned land.
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said:
“Fly-tipping blights our communities and it damages our environment.
“These powers will provide Local Authorities with an additional enforcement tool for small-scale fly-tipping offences where a prosecution is considered disproportionate.
“I am sure Local Authorities and communities will welcome these new powers. However, I feel it is important Local Authorities accompany these new powers with the appropriate level of public engagement, awareness raising and wider education programmes. I believe this is essential to ensure a positive response from the public and a sustainable reduction in offending behaviour”.
