Homeowners in Renfrewshire are being reminded of their responsibility to dispose of unwanted items appropriately as part of a new campaign by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
The environmental charity’s flytipping campaign gives householders practical information about their responsibilities and the consequences of dumped waste.
According to Keep Scotland Beautiful, 84% of people in Scotland agree that flytipping is a problem nationally. The Scottish Government’s National Flytipping Baseline estimates that 26,000 tonnes of material are dumped across Scotland each year.
The campaign encourages homeowners to take waste to a council household waste and recycling centre or use a registered waste service to remove it from their home.
The charity warns that householders could be fined up to £500 if their waste is dumped and traced back to them.
Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Flytipping is a serious crime. We understand that the majority of people who want to get rid of waste simply pay the best price for someone to remove the items – they don’t think about what happens to it and whether it ends up in the right place or just dumped.
“But the bottom line is your waste is your responsibility; 38% of people don’t know it is your responsibility to check if the person you ask to remove your waste has a license.
“We know how costly flytipping is to remove; it is not victimless, and we know how it makes people across the country feel as it ruins their communities. So next time you’re having a clear out or doing some renovation, dispose of your waste correctly yourself at a council recycling centre or ensure the person you’re paying to dispose of it has a license to do so.”
The campaign is part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s support for the Scottish Government’s National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.
Information about finding a reputable trader and reporting flytipping is available through the charity’s Community Litter Hub.
Headline Photo Credit: Keep Scotland Beautiful library photo