How It Makes Environment and Community Life Worse

What happens when waste is dumped on private or public land? Why should you care about it?

In 2022/23, local authorities in England dealt with 1.08 million incidents of fly-tipping, a massive number that indicates the extent of this issue. Fly-tipping is the illegal treatment, collection, or disposal of waste on a site that is not licensed to receive it. It is not only a criminal offence, but the effects of illegally dumped waste extend far beyond the unpleasant heaps of rubbish. While the government and authorities are doing everything in their power to reduce the number, it is still a prevalent and persistent problem that is affecting the environment and community life in the country. Here are some of the ways fly-tipping negatively impacts our quality of life and well-being and destroys the environment.

Health Hazards of Dumped Waste

The most threatening consequence of fly-tipping is the health hazard from harmful, contaminated or infectious materials.

Disease Transmission: Fly-tipped waste containing infectious medical items such as syringes, needles, and gauze can transmit disease to adults and children. If the material is not cleared quickly, it can contaminate the site and spread disease.

Contamination of Air: Sometimes, dumped waste consists of harmful chemicals like asbestos. Asbestos is a banned construction material with tiny fibres. Breathing these fibres can cause inflammation or infection in the lungs and can cause serious illness.

Risk of Injuries: Sharp objects in the dumped waste pose risks of injuries to the children and adults who are passing by the site. Often, animals tear down the plastic bags of the disposed rubbish, and sharp and spiky objects scatter on the ground causing wounds.

Environmental Hazards of Dumped Waste

Why are County Councils so invested in curbing fly-tipping? Because it is a serious environmental risk and causes pollution.

Effects on Air Quality: When waste is left untreated, it often produces foul smells and fumes that can negatively affect the air quality. Household waste includes rotten food and decomposing fruits and vegetables that emit unpleasant smells. As 60% of the fly-tipping incidents involved household waste, it is a common occurrence.

Effects on Soil Quality: Chemicals and fluids from decomposing materials leak through the plastic bags and seep into surface soil. It affects the quality of soil and leaves unsightly marks on otherwise clean areas. If garbage is left in a park or in a grassland, it can depress the soil’s plantation potential.

Effects on Aquifers and Water Bodies: There is a serious threat of contamination of waterbodies if the waste is dumped near them. Specifically, illegal dumping of chemical and industrial waste is an enormous challenge as it not only disturbs aquatic ecosystem, but contamination may cause severe diseases in people who consume water from these reservoirs.

Effects on Wildlife: From foxes to parakeets, UK towns and cities are home to a diverse range of wildlife. When rubbish is improperly disposed, animals and birds get into the trash bags and ingest items that are potentially harmful for them. There is choking hazard as well as risk of injuries from sharp items.

Accumulation of Plastic Waste: According to Greenpeace UK, households throw away an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic every week, amounting to 90 billion pieces over a year. Considering the high rate of fly-tipping of household waste, a large amount of plastic ends up on the corners of roads and along highways. Plastic can take up to 500 years to break down, and it does not ever completely disappear because it is a non-biodegradable material. Even when plastic bags and containers break down, their small pieces are highly dangerous for animals. Imagine the consequences of fly-tipped plastic waste on wildlife, aquatic life, and the environment in the long run!

Financial and Community of Dumped Waste

Devaluation of Property: The impact of fly-tipping is not just environmental, it also hits close to home. No one wants to live in an area where rubbish piles up on street corners. Fly-tipping discourages investment in the area and results in the devaluation of property. In areas like Kent, where fly-tipping incidents are high, property values may take a serious hit, making it a personal concern for all of us.

Waste of Taxpayers’ Money: The financial implications of fly-tipping are significant. In England, local authorities spent a substantial £13.2 million solely on clearing the larger fly-tipping incidents, which accounted for just 13% of the total cases. This underscores the substantial cost of waste clearance, which is ultimately borne by taxpayers. By effectively controlling fly-tipping, authorities can redirect these funds towards other public welfare projects.

Broken Window Effect of Fly-Tipping: According to this theory, if damage to the property is not rectified quickly, it attracts more damage. In the same effect, one black plastic bag on the corner will attract more trash bags. If fly-tipped waste is not cleared quickly, it signals the neighbourhood that such actions are acceptable.

Suspicion of Bigger Crimes: When an area is untidy and unkept, it gives a signal of an impending crime to the people. Fly-tipping heightens the visible signs of illegal or criminal activity in the area, and residents begin to feel unsafe in such areas.

Fly-tipping is bad for us, our community, and our environment! But it is not insurmountable problem. Let's join hands together to fight against fly-tipping, and take responsibility of our waste.

https://oneclear.co.uk/fly-tipping-removal/