Fly tipping on the rise in Wrexham with similar number of cases so far this year as was in all of 2017

250 incidents of fly-tipping have been reported in Wrexham since the start of the year, compared to 288 cases in the entire of 2017.

The figures, which have been released by Wrexham Council, come in light of a seemingly increase of rubbish being dumped on country lanes and rural parts of Wrexham.

Over the past two weeks there have been several reports online of large amounts of waste being dumped in the area, most recently the one tweeted to @Wrexham and @WrexhamCBC regarding rubbish near Glascoed Hall between Ffrith & Bwlchgwyn.

Fly-tipping totally blocking this bridlepath behind Glascoed Hall between Ffrith & Bwlchgwyn (SJ 277545). Looked like builders waste. Disgusting. @wrexham @wrexhamcbc pic.twitter.com/nUS2ba6sMO

— Moz (@wxmmoz) June 19, 2018

Wrexham Council are now warning residents about making sure the people they hire to dispose of their waste are legitimate. They should have a Waste Carrier’s Licence if not – don’t use them as they’re very likely to fly tip it and you’ll be responsible and liable to prosecution of they’re caught or if it can be traced back to you. This is a warning that was made by a councillor earlier this year, with a specific caution issued about using random people off Facebook.

This week Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment and transport, said: “There are shocking instances of fly-tipping on social media and it costs us to remove it.

“We always to check if there is anything in the rubbish to identify the owner and if so we will not hesitate to prosecute.

“Please, either use a reputable firm or use our bulky collection or even pay a visit to one of the three household recycling centres. Please don’t leave it to chance and risk prosecution because of someone else’s dubious behaviour.”

In a recent meeting to discuss Kingdom litter enforcement Cllr Bithell put the increase in fly-tipping and littering in 2018 down to adverse weather and the then winter months as a potential reason.

The last time we FOI’ed the figures (back in 2014) there had been 25 fixed penalties with 9 prosecutions.

We asked Wrexham Council for the latest stats on fines and prosecutions, however none were provided, but we were told that action is pursued where possible.

At a meeting earlier this year one councillor contrasted the action taken against cigerette end litter and fly tipping, saying ‘nothing was being done’.

At the same meeting it was noted that Kingdom have the power to issue tickets for littering on private land, however Wrexham Council will not prosecute for fly tipping on private land.

The following information has also been released by Wrexham Council:

Wrexham Council offers a kerbside collection of garden/organic waste in the green bin. There is no further collection services for green waste, soil or rubble.

If you have this or any large items of rubbish you would like to be taken away you could consider using the council’s ‘bulky collection service’, which includes:-

• Furniture (e.g. tables, chairs, suites, beds, mattresses, cabinets, desks, bookcases, wardrobes)
• White goods (e.g. fridges, freezers, cookers, tumble dryers, microwaves)
• Garden equipment (e.g. small lawnmowers, garden implements, garden tables and chairs, barbeques, bikes)
• Carpet (small amounts of carpet and underlay (off cuts of no more than 1 room size)
• Electrical and electronic equipment (e.g. computers, televisions)