Mobile CCTV across Kirklees to fight rise in fly-tipping

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Kirklees Council chiefs confirmed there has been a 33 percent increase in fly tipping due to household waste recycling centres being shut to the public.

As tips and recycling centres reopened last week, the council is formulating a plan on how the borough’s household waste recycling centres can operate – and how the safety of staff and the public can be ensured as the UK still remains in Covid-19 lockdown.

Dewsbury East councillor, Aleks Lukic said: “I want us to take the strongest possible action against fly-tipping.

“A mobile CCTV system is due to be trialled later this year, which should help tackle this problem in the worst affected areas.”

The council revealed it has already issued 55 fixed penalty notices during the lockdown, are in the process of four more prosecution cases, and are working towards the CCTV system in flytipping hotspots.

Throughout lockdown, the council said it was able to provide a full household waste, recycling, garden waste and bulky waste collection service.

Coun Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees, said: “During the first weeks in May we started to see an increase in the number of fly tips being reported.

“The amount of waste collected by our street scene and environmental action teams, who amongst other things respond to reported flytipping, has also increased by 33%.

“We’re working towards a CCTV system in flytipping hotspots to catch those people who continue to act in this despicable manner.”

The council has asked for people to delay visiting for now if they can keep their waste safely at home.