(Peterborough) (Con)
I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in Bill to make provision about the
advertising of waste disposal services; to require local
authorities to issue fixed penalty notices under section 34 of
the Environment Act 1990 in certain circumstances; and for
connected purposes.
We need a zero-tolerance approach to the criminal elements in our
society who are turning our neighbourhoods and rural beauty spots
into rubbish tips. No longer should our inner cities, suburbs,
towns, villages, and rural lanes be seen as dumping grounds for
illegal waste. We need to build on the work we have already done
on tackling fly-tipping and putting the tippers out of
business.
Shockingly, there are over 1 million incidences fly-tipping every
year. Government and local councils spend hundreds of millions of
pounds of taxpayers’ money every year on cleaning up illegal
waste sites across the country. It is a blight that not only
tarnishes the beauty of our landscapes but inflicts profound harm
on local environments and presents many risks to public health.
Fly-tipping ranges from household items to industrial waste. It
is discarded at best carelessly, but sometimes very deliberately
in our forests, fields and riversides, and even in densely
populated urban areas.
First and foremost, let us acknowledge the environmental and
human toll of fly-tipping. Toxins and pollutants contaminate the
environment, and wildlife suffers as animals are exposed to
hazardous materials. Furthermore, fly-tipping poses a significant
threat to public health. Dumped waste can contain harmful
chemicals and often hazardous materials. These pollutants leach
into the environment, contaminating the air we breathe, the water
we drink and the soil that sustains us. All of this carries the
risk of illness, disease and infection, not just to humans but to
domestic animals, pets and wildlife. This is a vicious cycle, and
we need to break it.
Fly-tipping also blights neighbourhoods and the urban
environment. It drives down property values, discourages
investment, and creates an environment for crime. The unsightly
mess left behind by fly-tippers creates a sense of neglect and
decay, decreasing any sense of local pride and fostering a
culture of apathy and resentment. I am sick to death of the
mindless idiots who dump their rubbish on Peterborough’s streets.
Fly-tipping is seen in both rural and urban areas, and it is
simply not fair on hard-working people that their neighbourhoods
are constantly the victim of this appalling behaviour. Moreover,
the cost of cleaning up illegally dumped waste falls on those
taxpayers, diverting resources that could be better spent on
essential services and infrastructure.
What can we do about this pervasive problem? Of course, it begins
with raising awareness and fostering a sense of accountability.
We must educate our communities about the consequences of
fly-tipping and instil a collective commitment to responsible
waste management. People want to take pride in their areas, but
as well as education there must be a much higher degree of
deterrence. Local authorities must enforce the existing stringent
laws against illegal dumping, impose severe penalties on
perpetrators and deter future violations. Furthermore, we must
invest in accessible and affordable waste disposal services,
providing viable alternatives to illegal dumping. At the same
time, we must ensure that these services for disposing waste
legally are properly regulated.
If I went on the internet, I would find hundreds of services that
would take my rubbish away for me, but how do I know where it is
actually going? Who is to say that the company I have paid to
dispose of my waste will not just drive five minutes down the
road and dump it in a field? The problem is that consumers do not
always know who is qualified to do what, often through no fault
of their own. They just want their waste taken away as soon as
possible. This can lead to non-registered companies operating
illegally and dumping household goods.
The Government’s own statistic is that 68% of all those
advertising waste disposal are not registered and are therefore
trading illegally in newspapers, online and in shop windows. Even
political activists fall foul of this. I had a lot of fun when a
large number of “Vote Labour” posters appeared on the private
land of a business in Peterborough back in 2022, but it portrayed
the serious point that this political activist was a victim of
the criminality behind those adverts.
At this point, I would like to recognise Martin Montague and Jo
Smith of ClearWaste, who are sitting with us in the Gallery
today. Martin and Jo have been tireless advocates for action on
fly-tipping for over five years, and the fly-tipping app
ClearWaste has gathered significant attention and has become a
top 10 app. If Members have not got it, take a look. It is one of
the simple ways to ensure that you are using a licensed waste
removal organisation, and you can also report fly-tipping on
it.
My Bill will require the display of a valid waste transfer
licence for all waste removal service advertisements up front.
This would further significantly limit the avenues for illegal
operators and would help people not to unwittingly use illegal
operators and unintentionally contribute to the scourge of
fly-tipping. The Government have taken significant action over
the last few years. Maximum penalties have been increased, and a
ban on DIY household waste charges means that households no
longer have to pay to get rid of small-scale DIY waste at council
recycling centres. Funding has been made available to local
authorities for trial projects including CCTV, AI and education,
but there is much more to be done. My Bill will help to ensure a
zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping.
The Government need local authorities to act. I would like to pay
tribute to Councillor Ishfaq Hussain, Councillor Bryan Tyler,
Councillor Chaz Fenner and Alex Rafiq, who have been amazing
champions in Peterborough for strong action on fly-tipping in
urban settings, and to Councillor Steve Allen and John Peach, who
have done the same in rural areas.
On the issue of councils acting, the second aspect of this Bill
would make it mandatory for local authorities to issue fines in
cases where the evidence for fly-tipping is clear on both public
and private land. There has been great progress in many areas,
but it is still far too hit and miss. Scores of local authorities
do not prosecute a single case a year. This is unacceptable and
we can no longer tolerate town halls turning a blind eye. At the
moment, a zero-tolerance approach in one area simply means that a
large-scale criminal enterprise can move its operations to a
different area. Only a consistent national approach to
enforcement will put fly-tippers out of business.
Winning the war on fly-tipping is a daunting challenge, but it is
one we cannot afford to ignore. I would like to pay tribute to my
hon. Friends the Members for Heywood and Middleton (), for Hyndburn () and for Bury North
() for their support. This Bill
would not be here right now without their unflinching support for
these measures to tackle fly-tipping. Through this Bill we will
close the loopholes that allow fly-tippers to advertise their
criminality online, and we will force local authorities to fine
perpetrators on both public and private land. To end this
scourge, we need a zero-tolerance approach.
I have been fortunate enough to take two Bills through the House
in my time as an MP. The Ballot Secrecy Bill, introduced by my
noble Friend , tackled family voting and
those who would attempt to subvert our democratic processes. The
Local Government (Pay Accountability) Bill tackles excessive town
hall pay and the need for transparency. It has passed its Second
Reading. Now, fly-tippers and criminals who dump their rubbish
are firmly in my sights and I hope that the Government and all
hon. Members will join us in the fight against fly-tipping.
Question put and agreed to.
Ordered,
That , , , , , , , , , and present the Bill.
accordingly presented the
Bill.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 17
May, and to be printed (Bill 197).
