What Is Fly-Tipping?

Fly-tipping, also referred to as fly dumping, is the ‘illegal disposal of any waste on to land that does not have a license to accept it.’ Rather than using legally permitted methods, such as skips, dumps and curbside collections, for example, ‘fly-tippers’ are people who have chosen to dispose of their rubbish at a site with no license to accept waste.

Of course, there are a wide variety of reasons why people choose to fly-tip, most commonly, to avoid disposal costs or the ‘hassle’ of having to locate a site with a license to accept waste. This negligence comes at a huge environmental cost: chemicals in the waste could potentially harm local wildlife and businesses if they contaminate the soil. Disposing of waste in this fashion can also negatively impact the lives of the surrounding community, attracting flies and pests, which pose a health risk and nuisance to locals. Therefore, it is understandable that fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence. There is currently no set fine for unlawfully disposing of waste in the UK; instead, it is settled by courts independently, at their discretion.

Despite this, fly-tipping is worryingly on the rise. In 2019/20, local authorities in England dealt with almost 1 million fly-tipping incidents, an increase of 2% from the 957,000 reported in 2018/19. This poses a challenge to local councils across the UK, with many implementing measures such as social impact stickers or school empowerment programmes to educate younger members of the community.

We should all strive to dispose of our waste in a way that is as responsible and eco-friendly as possible in order to combat this issue. At Sheridan Skips, it is integral to our team to ensure that the waste we handle is disposed of in a way that builds a greener future – we sort it thoroughly and distribute it to the correct disposal units, be that recycling, general or hazardous waste units, at all times keeping local communities at the heart of everything that we do. Created over two decades ago, our business has been offering bespoke solutions for homeowners and businesses across Greater Manchester for quite some time – at this stage in the game, making us experts in the industry. If you’re interested in our Skip Hire services or our bespoke Waste Management solutions, please contact us today.

Where Do I Stand If Someone Fly-Tips on My Land?

If someone fly-tips on your land, it is understandable that you will want to get the waste removed, and the issue resolved, as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, do not approach the offenders or attempt to remove the waste yourself – this would put you at risk unnecessarily. It’s also important to remember that some fly-tipped waste could be hazardous, containing chemicals that may put you at risk.

Instead, be sure to take down any relevant information including the registration plate of the offender, or general details of the waste that was tipped, along with the time and date of the incident, and pass it onto the relevant authority. If you spot the incident occurring/someone actively fly-tipping, it is advised that you call 999 to report it. Remember that fly-tipping is a criminal offence. If it is not an active crime, but you can see that someone has fly-tipped, reporting the issue to the local authorities is still advised so that they can do their best to monitor the area to prevent it from becoming a repeat issue.

Arrange for waste disposal with a licensed company and be sure to keep note of all clearance and disposal costs – you may be able to be reimbursed if the offender is fined. Ensure that you do not move any of the waste until authorities have been notified and photographs have been taken.

There are some ways in which you can try to avoid fly-tipping in the future. For example, by restricting access to your land with the installation of a gate or deterrence in the form of CCTV cameras or signs.

Ways to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Domestic and Commercial Waste

In order to minimise your impact on the environment, it is important that you dispose of both domestic and commercial waste as responsibly as possible. Here at Sheridan Skips, we’re passionate about offering household and commercial waste management. The service we provide aims to be holistic, cost-effective, and has recycling and the local environment at its heart; your waste will always be disposed of in a way that helps to build a greener, more eco-friendly future!

If you’re looking for skip hire in Manchester or surrounding areas, get in touch today. The skips we provide are compact and convenient for residential, as well as commercial, properties. You can choose which size best suits your needs and budget, adjusting the hire period according to what you require.

Domestic Waste

Domestic waste usually consists of biodegradable waste, food packaging, and composite waste. The disposal of this type of waste is usually managed by the local council.

For ease of disposal, it is important that you make sure to separate your waste as recommended by the relevant body. Read the labels carefully before discarding items in order to ensure that you’re disposing of everything as advised. Try to recycle wherever possible, but make sure that you’ve got the right bins for the materials that you’ll be recycling (plastic, paper, glass, metal, batteries, bulbs, electronics, etc.)

Composting can also be a great way to dispose of food waste. Not only is it good for the environment, but it also can help you to enrich your soil and suppress plant diseases and pests.

Commercial Waste

All sorts of businesses, renovation and building work will create waste. It is inevitable. However, we should always strive to discard this waste in a way that is as responsible and eco-friendly as possible. This is somewhat more difficult when it comes to commercial, rather than domestic, waste due to the nature of its contents. However, there are certain precautions that can, and should, be taken.

1. Make sure to store your waste responsibly in appropriate containers that won’t allow the waste to spill.
2. Ensure that each container is clearly labelled with its contents.
3. Use waterproof covers that stop waste blowing away or rain getting in and causing potential runoff.

There are further precautions that you will need to take if you are disposing of hazardous waste. More information on how to safely dispose of commercial waste can be found on the government website.

Get in Touch for Skip Hire in Manchester

We are an efficient, family-run business that is passionate about the local environment. Part of our mission is making sure waste is removed in a way that is as eco-friendly as possible.

If you are looking for cost-effective skip hire or refuse removal in Manchester and the surrounding areas, get in touch with Sheridan Skips and one of our expert team can help supply you with what you need. From domestic customers to builders that are carrying out vast reconstruction projects, we’ll take on any challenge, no matter the size of your task.