The cost of dealing with fly tipping in West Lindsey has risen by more than a third over the last five years, according to a Freedom of Information Request.
Figures from West Lindsey District Council have revealed that it spent £94,753 to deal with fly-tipping in 2023, up from £55,441 in 2019. So far this year, it has already cost the district council more than £60,000, according to figures dating up to August.
Housing and Development Manager at West Lindsey District Council, Andy Gray, said: “It’s a service we’d obviously spend less of our finances on, but ultimately, we have an obligation to collect waste in that way.
“It’s important that we focus on reducing the amount of fly-tipping, tackling the people that do it so we can reduce our overall spend on it.”
Mr Gray said that the lockdown restrictions during the pandemic meant people were unable to dispose of their waste properly.
He added: “We’re hopeful that this will return to a stable level, but we’ve also got to take into account the costings have gone up over the last five years in terms of the cost of living, and people’s wages have gone up over the last five years so those things have got to be taken into account.”
One village litter-picking group in Welton, West Lindsey, has taken matters into their own hands.
The Welton Litter Picking Group was established over six years ago and has been clearing litter from the road verges in the village since.
Volunteer Graham Nicols, from Welton, said: “There is often a lot a fly tipping. It’s mainly stuff which is thrown out of cars, but occasionally, we come across much bigger things, too.
“I think the first thing we need to do is reduce the amount of packaging we use so it’s not going to be thrown away in the first place.”
A fellow volunteer says she became part of the litter-picking group to keep the village looking tidy. They said: “It’s just ongoing. There’s litter everywhere. “It spoils the view, and your eye gets drawn to the litter rather than enjoying the environment here.”
West Lindsey District Council has launched a campaign to spread awareness about fly-tipping.
More information can be found here: Fly-tipping | West Lindsey District Council (west-lindsey.gov.uk)