ON Friday (19 November), the Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, joined the council’s Environment Enforcement Team working alongside Thurrock Essex Police Team and Rural Engagement Team to crackdown on fly-tipping across the borough.
The collaborative two-day operation held on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 November focused on fly-tipping, including unlicensed waste carriers who transport and dump waste illegally.
Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Anti-social Behaviour, Cllr Gledhill, said: “First of all, I would like to thank the Essex Police teams and council officers who were out on both days during the successful operation to help reduce instances of fly-tipping.
“Our ongoing multi-agency approach with Essex Police continues to go from strength to strength. We received many positive comments from local residents over the course of the two days, which saw us speak to individuals in 50 vehicles on average each day.
“Stopping vehicles that are more likely to be involved in fly-tipping across the borough is one of the ways that we can deter this type of anti-social behaviour, and we found that many of those we stopped didn’t need or already had the correct documentation. We’d like to remind residents that they must ensure anyone taking rubbish away from their property is fully licensed – you can check registration numbers, names or business names online using the DEFRA/Environmental Agency Public Register.”
The collaborative approach between the council and Essex Police resulted in:
- 11 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to individuals who did not have a waste carrier licence and for other related offences to a total of £3,150
- three vehicles seized for no insurance
- one vehicle seized as it was not roadworthy and in a dangerous condition
- one individual reported for not having a driver’s licence
- one vehicle reported for no MOT
Fly-tipping can be reported online. For information on the right way to dispose of different items, go to the A to Z of waste and recycling on the council’s website. Information about how to dispose of bulky waste, including collections, can also be found online.
