READING Borough Council’s specialist recycling and enforcement team celebrated its second anniversary earlier this month.
The team has recorded more than 47 successful court prosecutions and 800 fines for fly-tipping and littering offences over two years. This has led to the council collecting £65,000 in fines.
One successful prosecution came from investigation of a large fly-tip at bottle banks at Kensington Road in west Reading. Evidence of the name and address where the waste had come from was found and a fixed penalty notice was issued for unauthorised disposal of controlled waste. When the penalty was not paid within 14 days, the matter proceeded to prosecution. The offender was fined £400 plus costs.
The team carry out inspections to help businesses dispose of their rubbish correctly and helped introduce Reading’s food waste recycling programme. Other duties include attending community events to advise residents on recycling.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, lead for neighbourhoods and communities, says that the creation of the team demonstrates the council’s tough stance on fly-tipping and littering.
She said: “Our message is clear – if you spoil the streets of Reading for our law-abiding residents, you will be caught and you will be punished.”
Residents can report fly-tipping and littering on the Love Clean Streets app, where reports can be sent along with photographic evidence. They can also call the Council’s contact centre on 0118 937 3787.
