New fly-tipping powers fall short, campaigner says

A Worcestershire anti-litter campaigner has criticised the details of a new government proposal to increase local authorities' powers when dealing with fly-tippers.

The plans, announced on Wednesday, could lead to fly-tippers facing 20 hours of community service to clean up their mess, as well as fines of up to £300 without councils having to go through the courts.

But Laura Van Toller, a member of Anti-Litter Evesham, questioned if the punishment was strong enough.

"We need to start hitting them where it hurts," she said.

Van Toller said while she supported the principle of the new measures the maximum fine should be higher and the punishment needed to be properly enforced.

The Environment Agency (EA), which regulates waste, said that it had found 749 new illegal waste sites in 2024-2025, double the year before.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "If you dump rubbish on our streets, you will be joining a clean-up squad and picking up the bill, not the taxpayer.

"The government is handing both the Environment Agency and local authorities the power to boost waste crime enforcement, hand out tougher sentences and tackle illegal dumping faster."

According to Bromsgrove District Council, the number of people dumping waste in the town has more than doubled in the past three years, with nearly 2,400 cases last year alone.

Doug Henderson, the environmental services manager for the council, said: "We come across broken glass, drug paraphernalia, needls, asbestos, all sorts, and we lose about two hours a day with two person teams."

"It costs the public a lot of money and it damages the environment."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.