A HUGE increase in the number of reports of fly-tipping in the Bradford district is due to more people knowing how to report incidents rather than more rubbish being dumped, says a new report.

The number of reports of fly-tipping has doubled from 4,602 in 2012/13 to 9,271 in 2016/17. But a new report on fly-tipping in the district shows that during the same period the amount of rubbish collected by the Council’s fly-tipping teams had remained constant – 4,000 tonnes were collected in 2012/13 and 4,000 tonnes were collected in 2016/17.

There has also been a big rise in the number of prosecutions over fly-tipping and littering in recent years.

The report, which was presented to the Council’s Environment and Waste Management Scrutiny Committee yesterday, said “easier reporting mechanisms” to let the Council know about fly-tipping, such as online tools, were a major factor in the rise.

It also points out that one fly-tip in the Shipley area led to 10 individual reports being logged in a few hours.

The report says: “The increasing awareness of and access to services across the 24-hour day is a significant factor in the rising levels of reports.”

The committee was also told how enforcement officers are spread through the district. The Bradford East constituency has the equivalent of 2.5 officers, with Bradford West and Bradford South having two officers each. Keighley and Shipley have one officer each.

The Council has stepped up fly-tipping prosecutions in recent years. The report reveals that in 2015 there were just seven prosecutions for “waste offences” including four prosecutions for littering.

But since January 2016 there have been 36 prosecutions – including 23 for fly-tipping, and eight for not complying with a Community Protection Notice – handed out to landowners who do not keep their land tidy.

The punishments have brought in a total of £42,905 from fines, and cost the Council £16,560.

The biggest punishment was handed out earlier this year, when Acornford Estates (Northern), based in Savile Row, London, was fined £20,000 for failing to clear fly-tipped rubbish from land it owned on Mansfield Road, Manningham.

MORE TOP STORIES

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: “We take a very pro-active approach to dealing with fly-tipping, which has included using recent legislation to seize and destroy a van used for fly-tipping, handing out Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £400 and prosecuting offenders through the courts.

“It is encouraging to see this evidence that people are heeding the call to report fly-tipping.”

Fly-tipping can be reported be calling 01274 434366 and asking for the Environment Enforcement Team or online at bradford.gov.uk.