Luton Council has launched a tougher crackdown on illegal dumping after uncovering a surge of fly tipping at the Calverton Road glass recycling centre, where more than 40 separate incidents were recorded in just four weeks, plus a suspected arson attack.
The hotspot has been repeatedly targeted despite prominent warnings and CCTV installation as part of the town’s wider ‘War on Waste’ campaign.
Officers say the situation has become increasingly serious, with one incident involving asbestos and suspected trade waste, and another showing the same individual returning to dump rubbish on three different occasions. A suspected arson attack on the site was also captured during the surveillance period.
The council has issued £1,000 fixed penalty notices to 11 offenders, with a further 10 cases still being investigated. Anyone convicted in court faces an unlimited fine, while businesses risk prison sentences of up to five years. The council has published images of people they want to identify on its website.
Councillor Ghulam Abbas, portfolio holder for Strategic Housing and Neighbourhood Services, said: “Fly tipping is not just an eyesore, it is a serious threat to our environment and public health. Every year it costs the council tens of thousands of pounds every year to clear illegally dumped waste, which attracts vermin and other animals which spread waste and disease.
“As well as fly-tippers, our CCTV also caught foxes ripping open bags and spreading waste in their search for food. This action by our Investigations Team sends a clear message that the council will pursue residents and businesses who dump their waste illegally. Officers will continue to use CCTV to target this and other fly tipping hot spots, and anyone caught will face a minimum £1,000 penalty notice.”
The council has stressed that residents and businesses have plenty of legitimate disposal options, from tidy tips to bulky waste collections and commercial contracts, and says there is no excuse for dumping rubbish illegally. Further information is available on the council’s website.
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