'Love where you live' aims to curb fly-tipping

55 minutes ago

Shariqua AhmedPeterborough

News image — Peterborough recorded the highest number of fly-tipping incidents per head in the East of England in 2023-24

Cambridgeshire Constabulary Fly-tipped items left near bushes and nettles, including cardboard, black rubbish bins, a white duvet and other bags and detritus. — Peterborough recorded the highest number of fly-tipping incidents per head in the East of England in 2023-24

A new free bulky waste collection service is being started across Peterborough to tackle the issue of littering and fly-tipping.

Peterborough City Council has also launched a new awareness campaign, Love Where You Live, in partnership with the Peterborough Litter Wombles to highlight the impact of fly-tipping.

The council added that responsible waste disposal could help reduce its costs while creating cleaner and stronger communities.

Harry Machin, from the Peterborough Litter Wombles, said: "I think that's all a good start, but I think there's a lot more they could do."

The council plans to offer free bulky waste collections in every ward, with a proposal to expand the service to two collections a month next year. This service is currently offered by parish councils.

A dedicated website has also been created to share fly-tipping appeals, enforcement action and local incident data, while encouraging residents to help tackle the problem.

Peterborough Litter Wombles Harry, a man in a grey T-shirt and blue jeans, is standing next to piles of rubbish packaged up in plastic bags. — Harry Machin said DIY and household waste was regularly fly-tipped across the city

Machin said fly-tipped DIY and household waste remained a persistent problem and called for improvements at the council's household recycling centre in Fengate, to make it easy for people to dispose of waste.

He said: "The rules and regulations do put people off and I don't know whether they could extend the opening hours or maybe find ways to accept more different types of waste.

"Perhaps greater volumes of waste, perhaps find ways to accept a bit more DIY waste, which is fly-tipped everywhere on a routine basis and is a major problem."

Chris Wiggin, the council cabinet member for the environment, described the litter issue as a "great frustration".

"As part of this new campaign we are urging people to love where they live, which means taking personal responsibility for your environment and making the city a place where people can be proud to live and spend time," he said.

"As well as raising awareness of the problems, we will be highlighting the correct ways to get rid of waste and we need people's help to spread the word."