More than £400,000 dedicated to newly created Gateshead anti-fly-tipping squad

More than £400,000 has been allocated to a crackdown on fly-tipping in Gateshead.

Gateshead Council is due to spend £440,000 recruiting nine additional officers to help crack down on fly-tipping and illegal dumping, with nine additional officers to be recruited for the initiative.

According to council figures, around 6,000 fly-tipping incidents have been recorded over the last three financial years.

READ MORE:Birtley swimming pool reopens after £400,000 effort to save it from closure

READ MORE:New Writing North gears up for £14m project with new board leaders

However, council officers have stated the exact number of incidents is likely to be under-reported, with the authority's grounds maintenance teams cleaning up tips before they can be logged. In 2023/204, the council estimated it spent £364,200 clearing 567 tonnes of fly-tipped waste.

In addition, since January 2024, the authority has issued 10 community protection orders, 110 warning letters, 41 formal advisory notices, and 49 notices compelling those believed to have relevant information in a criminal enquiry to come forward. There are also currently 108 ongoing investigations in regard to fly-tipping.

Gateshead Council has been awarded £36,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for three new cameras to monitor fly-tipping hot spots.

A council report on fly-tipping has, however, found key challenges or "barriers" in fly-tipping prevention. One major issue identified includes inappropriate waste management by landlords.

Some landlords, the report states, often dispose of mattresses, sofas, and bagged household waste in back lanes. Such waste is treated as "commercial waste" and therefore cannot use official household tips. Unlicensed disposal firms have also been identified as a major problem.

The report states: "The message isn’t getting through to residents that low costs often mean the waste will be fly-tipped and if their waste is found, they too can be prosecuted. There have been circumstances where residents have used companies that purport to be licensed but aren’t and residents don’t check the finer detail. "