CLA Cymru has welcomed the introduction of new regulations in Wales which allow local authorities in Wales to issue fixed-penalty notices for fly-tipping incidents. Under the new provisions penalties of up to £400 could be imposed.

Rebecca Williams, Director of CLA Cymru said, “The announcement is particularly welcome following a CLA campaign this summer to tackle the problem.”

“Fly-tipping is not a victimless-crime. Rural landowners should not bear the burden of clearing waste deposited deliberately to avoid waste-management costs of to save time. If land owners don’t act they risk prosecution for illegal storage of waste – which is simply not fair.”

Rebecca added, “Our own research has shown that private landowners bear the cost of on average £844 per incident.”

“Most landowners are modest farmers who cannot afford this clearance cost, the time it involves and also face the risk of injury to livestock or contamination of land by residues from fly-tipped waste, some of which is set-alight.”

“In Wales we value the quality of our landscape very highly,” Rebecca Williams continued. “It is entirely appropriate that as strategies develop further for natural resources management, mechanisms are put into place to defend the quality of our environment.”

Rebecca Williams concluded, “The success of this initiative depends on local authorities’ capacity effectively to enforce the regulations. That they can retain the receipts to help to contribute to the costs of dealing with the problem may be helpful.