Fly-tipping during the Covid-19 lockdown

Reports from other parts of the country show that there has been an increase in the number of fly-tips since the lockdown started.

But figures for North East Lincolnshire show 167 fly-tipping reports for March, compared to 260 in March 2019.

February saw 150 incidents and January had 225. And figures for April 1 to 10 show 38.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said:

“Fly-tipping is never acceptable. Some parts of the country have witnessed a big increase in fly-tipping since the lockdown.

“I’m pleased to say most people in North East Lincolnshire are acting responsibly and we’ve not yet seen an increase here.

“I’d like to thank everyone for the way they are managing their waste under the coronavirus restrictions.

“Some people are using the lockdown to crack on with a DIY project or clear up their gardens, but we’re asking them to think before they embark on a big project and if they do, deal with the waste lawfully.

“If you can store any extra waste without it causing a problem for you or your neighbours, that’s fine. But if you can’t, this is not a good time for those projects.

“Please also think ahead. The tips in Grimsby and Immingham are likely to be exceptionally busy once the restrictions are lifted, so you could be in for a long wait before you can get rid your extra waste.

“It’s business as usual for our environmental enforcement, but there are limitations on how much contact they can have with the public. You can still help by reporting any fly-tips to them and providing as much information as possible.”

Kerbside recycling and household rubbish collections are running as normal, but there have been some delays to garden waste collections.

Immingham Recycling Centre is now closed, but Grimsby’s remains open.