The Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today (13 October) urged the Welsh Government to ensure easy access to both domestic and non-domestic recycling premises as part of their Beyond Recycling strategy proposals. 

Her intervention came as it is revealed that, between July 2019 and June 2020, there were 675 instances of fly tipping across Neath Port Talbot, 968 across Denbighshire, 1034 across Monmouthshire and 2281 across Caerphilly. 

Most concerning was the Rhondda Cynon Taf, where, despite 2816 cases of fly tipping being recorded between July 2019 and June 2020, zero fixed penalty notices were issued. The figures came as part of an FOI campaign by the Shadow Minister, earlier this year.  

Commenting on the blight of fly tipping, Janet said:  

“It is clear from the replies to my recent FOI submission to local authorities across Wales, that fly tipping remains a modern menace and that Welsh Government plans to deal with the issue have not been a success. 

“Indeed, the figures suggest that local authorities throughout Wales, whilst having the powers to give fixed penalty notices and bring about prosecutions, do not have the necessary funding to ensure that these powers are enforced. 

“These figures also suggest that our recycling centres are far from accessible for many. Indeed, figures from the Local Government Association show that fly-tipping across the UK costs taxpayers more than £57 million a year to clean up. 

“Therefore, I have urged the Welsh Government to commit to increasing local authority funding to ensure that recycling centres are more accessible, as any future strategy designed to deal with fly tipping must focus on prevention rather than reaction.” 

ENDS