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CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL DUMPING
Scotland’s environment watchdog is joining forces with a host of agencies in a bid to target illegal dumpers during a week long enforcement campaign.

From 1-8 August, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is taking part in the Scottish Flytipping Forum Enforcement Week, aimed at cracking down on businesses and individuals who flaunt the law by disposing of their rubbish irresponsibly.

In addition to carrying out surveillance operations at well known fly tipping hotspots, SEPA, local authorities and the police will also stop and search vehicles thought to be carrying waste without a licence.

Application forms and information packs, highlighting the need for carriers to be registered with SEPA, will be handed out to those who are unaware of this.

Carol McGinnes SEPA’s environmental partnership manager, said: “Fly-tipping is the illegal disposal of waste onto land with no licence to accept waste.

“Uncontrolled waste disposal can be hazardous to the public who may come in to contact with it and environmental damage can result from illegally dumped waste.

“We would encourage everyone to consider the impact of their actions, whether it is in their home, business, local community and environment when disposing of their waste.”

The high profile campaign, which is part of the Forum’s Dumb Dumpers initiative, will also see both SEPA and council officers performing duty of care audits at premises which deal with supplying, fitting and disposing of tyres, as well as other potentially environmentally damaging waste, such as oils, brake pads and batteries.

Firms who are unable to prove their compliance with the waste legislation will be issued with a seven day notice and failure to comply with this notice may lead to a report being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Donna Niven, Keep Scotland Beautiful`s programme manager added: “Keep Scotland Beautiful is delighted that SEPA, local authorities and our police forces are working together to help highlight this problem.

“Illegally dumped waste costs Scottish tax payers millions of pounds to clear up every year and also gives tourists a bad impression of our country. We need to use enforcement options, as well as our campaign messages, to ensure that businesses and the general public are fully aware of how to dispose of their waste in the right way.”

The Duty of Care requires that if you give waste to someone else, you must be sure that they are authorised to take it and can transport, recycle or dispose of it safely this applies to both Householders and Businesses. Before handing your waste to any person it is advised that appropriate checks are carried out.

The Enforcement Week will be supported by TV advertising, promoting the Dumb Dumpers message and the Stopline number, 0845 2 30 40 90

Further information about the Scottish Flytipping Forum, including members, is available from David McPherson, Flytipping Prevention Officer on 01786 871263 or by visiting the website, www.dumbdumpers.org
The Scottish Flytipping Forum is funded by the Scottish Executive and is run by Keep Scotland Beautiful.