06 March 2020
Waste amnesties set to tackle fly-tipping
Waste amnesties are set to be held on three housing estates in Daventry this month in a bid to tackle fly-tipping.
The events will see a team from Futures Greenscape visit the Headlands, Southbrook and The Grange to give residents an opportunity to dispose of bulky items for free.
They have been organised by the Daventry District and South Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership, which will also be holding community litter picks and handing out information on anti-social behaviour, fire safety and fly-tipping on each of the days.
The event will promote charitable groups such as Daventry Contact, who will take used items in good condition away for free, as well as Daventry District Council’s (DDC) bulky waste service, which costs less than £17 for three items.
The waste amnesties will be held at:
The Headlands (based at Edinburgh Square) on Wednesday 11 March from midday to 2pm
The Southbrook (based in Hood Road) on Wednesday 18 March from midday to 2pm
The Grange (based in Tamar Square) on Wednesday 25 March from midday to 2pm.
People with items to dispose of can email [email protected] ahead of the event taking place in their area, or visit the base between midday-2pm on the day to arrange collection. Collections will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis.
A range of household items can be disposed of using the service, including unwanted furniture, white goods and electrical items. Items which will not be collected include asbestos, sharps, and any hazardous waste such as gas bottles or clinical waste.
Residents are reminded that the amnesties will last only for the dates and times advertised, and that any illegal disposal of waste outside of this will be treated as fly-tipping, which is punishable by fines of up to £50,000 and, in the most serious cases, a prison sentence.
DDC also has the power to issue £400 on-the-spot fines, as well as to seize vehicles which have been used in fly-tipping.
The amnesties are being held as part of Operation Unite, a combined effort by the police, fire service and local councils to tackle anti-social behaviour and arson in Daventry.
The Community Safety Partnership brings together partners including Daventry District Council, South Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, Northamptonshire County Council, Nene Clinical Commissioning Group, Futures Housing Group and others to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the community.
Councillor Daniel Cribbin, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health and Housing on Daventry District Council, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities, with the clear-up costing councils thousands of pounds that could be better spent on public services.
“We know that the vast majority of residents on these housing estates take pride in their communities, but unfortunately there are a minority who spoil it for others by throwing their rubbish wherever they like.
“There will also be people who are unable to afford to dispose of items properly, and we hope these amnesties will give them an opportunity to get rid of large items for free without resorting to using unlicensed waste carriers, who are likely to dump them in the countryside.
“We are working hard as a Council to target fly-tippers through enforcement, but we also have to think about other ways to tackle this issue, and evidence from other councils suggests that amnesties such as these can have a beneficial impact. I’m very grateful to all the partners who are working with us to achieve this.”
For more information or if you would like to get involved in any of the litter picks, please email [email protected]