The UK has seen a surge in fly-tipping amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Councils and businesses across the UK are reporting a soar in the number of people dumping rubbish during the pandemic.
Factors such as temporary closures of tips and recycling centres, staff shortages and existing council scale backs have contributed to people resorting to fly-tipping.
Although the Government didn’t enforce a shutdown of waste recycling centres, many have found it impossible to operate within the social distancing guidelines.
Some councils have also reduced their garden waste collections, while individuals are taking advantage of the springtime sunshine to spruce up their outdoor space.
When combined with the extra time the nation has on its hands to carry out DIY makeovers and quarantine clean-ups, as well as locked-down families producing more waste, it’s created a catastrophic recipe of excess waste and a lack of options to get rid of it.
The Daily Mail have claimed a staggering 300% rise in fly-tipping in recent weeks, and councils have been forced to reiterate warnings of fines and prosecution to anyone caught dumping waste.
And Wyre council has even asked residents to reconsider DIY projects in their home and garden due to the spate of incidents, unless they have the means to store their waste.
Businesses have also faced the additional stress of individuals using their commercial bins to discard of personal rubbish.
Three tips to protect your bin from fly-tippers
Hide it
Keep your bin hidden or in a secure area – if they can’t see it, they can’t abuse it. Just remember to bring it back out the night before collection.
Lock it
If it is not possible to keep your bin in a secure location, adding a lock to your bin can be a cheap and easy way to deter individuals who are often looking for a quick getaway.
Educate
Many people don’t realise businesses pay their bin collectors by weight and simply don’t think they’re doing anything wrong. Try to educate individuals, post on your social media or put a sign by your bin.
If you’re a business looking for waste management during or after the Covid-19 pandemic, why not get a free quote.
