Sandwell's 12,000 fly-tipping incidents in one year but just 28 fines raised in Parliament
Sandwell's atrocious fly-tipping blight has been raised in Parliament after latest statistics revealed there were only 28 fines despite nearly 12,000 illegal dumps in one year.
West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes asked the Government what will be done to stop the scourge of fly-tipping, which saw 11,855 incidents in 2022-2023.
The Labour MP asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mary Creagh MP: "Sandwell Litter Watch does a great job of keeping our streets clean, but it and the council cannot overcome the selfish behaviour of fly-tippers, who dump rubbish all over the borough, from Yew Tree to Oldbury.
"Incidents of fly-tipping in Sandwell are now double the national average. Will the Minister set out further how the Government are working with councils to catch and punish these dreadful fly-tippers?"
Ms Creagh praised those who gave up their time to clean up the rubbish of others. She said: "I pay tribute to Sandwell Litter Watch, and to Destination Barr Hill in my constituency, who get out and about every weekend to clean up other people’s mess. We will crack down on fly-tipping, establishing clean-up squads and forcing those who dump rubbish or vandalise our fields to join in the clean-up.
"The National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group has produced a guide on how local authorities can present robust prosecutions to support tougher sentences. The Government will also explore further options with the Ministry of Justice’s sentencing review."
She added: "Fly-tipping has increased after years of Conservative failure, leaving a plague of dumped rubbish across our streets, parks and cities and imposing huge costs on taxpayers and businesses.
This new Labour Government will end our throwaway society and stop the avalanche of rubbish filling up our streets by increasing recycling rates, reducing waste and cracking down on waste crime."
In 2022-23 there were 11,855 incidents of fly tipping recorded by Sandwell Council, marking a massive year on year increase.
Ten years ago there were around 3-4,000 range in the mid-2010s, around 6,000 per year in the late 2010s. However, the number almost doubled between 2019-20 and 2020-21. The 2022-23 number was 34.4 per 1,000 people in the local authority which was well above the national average of 19.0 per 1,000.
Sandwell’s rate in 2022-23 was 31st highest figure out of 309 local authorities with data, or higher than around 90 per cent of local authorities. However, the council is now carrying out fewer investigations into fly-tipping despite having more than ever.
Sandwell Council started 193 investigations into fly tipping incidents in 2022-23, at the start of the 2010s it was carrying out almost 3,000 per year. Most actions by the local authority in the early 2010s were duty of care inspections of businesses and other agencies to ensure they are meeting their duty to dispose of waste legally.
