Waste education and enforcement
Posted on Tuesday 25th February 2020
Newport City Council shares the dismay of residents and businesses about those who selfishly and thoughtlessly fail to dispose of their waste responsibly.
This impacts on all those who live in, work in and visit the city and has a huge cost not only on the council but on the environment.
Over the last year, the council's Pride in Newport and waste enforcement teams have carried out education and enforcement activities as well as giving support to community groups across the city.
An additional £213,000 has been allocated in next year's draft budget to make the city centre more attractive, safer and cleaner and this will include additional cleansing.
Councillor Roger Jeavons, cabinet member for city services, said: "At a time of stretched resources, we are paying to pick up other people's rubbish, funding which could be directed to other frontline services.
"I live and work in Newport and it saddens me to see litter thoughtlessly thrown down on the streets, sometimes near an empty bin. However, even if a public bin is full, or there is not one there, there is absolutely no excuse. People should take their rubbish home with them and dispose of it properly.
"Fly-tipping is a scourge, it blights beautiful countryside and urban streets across the country. People will often drive for miles to dump piles of waste and these can be unlicensed carriers who have been paid by householders to take away their rubbish.
"People should always check that operators are licensed as not only are they are enabling an unscrupulous, and possibly criminal, practice, they are also committing an offence.
"Our teams are working incredibly hard to both raise awareness and crack down on those who selfishly litter and fly-tip. They regularly take part in clean-up operations with other organisations and many councillors, including myself, have taken part in community litter picks.
"Keeping the city clean is not the sole responsibility of the council, everyone has a part to play."
Enforcement teams investigate incidents of illegal fly-tipping on council adopted highways and footpaths. Under new legislation, they can issued fixed penalty notices of £400 for fly-tipping and £300 for duty of care offences.
Over the last six months enforcement action in relation to waste and fly-tipping offences has included:
- 45 warning letters
- 11 fixed penalty notices
- Eight £400 fines for fly-tipping
- Three £100 fines for littering
- Surveillance work at fly-tipping "hotspots"
- Waste licence carrier checks
They also work closely with South Wales Fire and Rescue and Gwent Police on projects and also with Fly-tipping Action Wales, and other groups, as well as providing support to community groups on litter-picking events.
Newport, like all Welsh authorities, has a legal and ethical obligation to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and increase recycling.
Following changes to household collections, officers have supported and advised hundreds of residents and there has been a significant increase in the city's recycling rates.
A decrease of 20 per cent in non-recyclable waste and a 37 per cent increase in collected food waste is testament to the efforts made by the majority of residents.
The council has been working with those who misuse household refuse bins or have excess waste. Over the last six months, more than 2,000 households have generated excess waste but, after engagement with officers, those who breached a second time dropped by 80 per cent and a further 70 per cent for those who breached a third time.
Only 26 households received fixed penalty notices and there have been two successful court cases, with fines imposed, and 16 pending.