Walsall Council has intensified its campaign against fly-tipping in the borough throughout 2023/24, taking firm action against perpetrators and implementing innovative strategies to combat environmental crime.
The council’s community safety and enforcement service responded to a total of 787 reports of fly-tipping in the past year, leading to 497 litter fixed penalty notices and 22 fly-tipping fixed penalty notices being issued. Using CCTV cameras to capture incriminating footage, the team has cracked down on illegal dumping activities across the borough.
In a proactive move to address the issue, two commercial vehicles seized by the council were crushed after not being claimed, sending a strong message to potential offenders. Additional enforcement measures included the seizure of a vehicle from Dalkeith Street for fly-tipping offences, further demonstrating the council’s zero-tolerance approach to environmental crimes.
In February 2023, Walsall Council launched the Environmental Crime Scene project in collaboration with One Palfrey Big Local. This initiative involves cordoning off fly-tipped waste sites akin to crime scenes, creating a visual deterrent and emphasising the seriousness of illegal dumping practices.
Councillor Garry Perry, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resilient Communities at Walsall Council, said: “ The Environmental Crime Scene Project has proved very effective, including one example on Whitehall Road in March 2023 where a perpetrator came forward within a day of the rubbish being taped up. A similar incident took place in July 2023 on Shireview Road, Pelsall, where within 24 hours of the fly-tipping taking place, the offender returned to the same location to clear up the rubbish they had dumped. This year has seen a lot of enforcement action taken and we remain committed to creating a cleaner environment that residents are proud to call home and feel safe in. My thanks go to those who help keep our borough clean and tidy, those who report fly-tipping incidents and those who dispose of their waste properly and responsibly.“
