Council clears seven tonne Fosse Way fly-tip

The major commercial fly-tip, reported to the council shortly before 5.30pm on Tuesday (18 April), was on the Fosse Way near Wibtoft, just off the junction with the A5.

Officers from the council's environmental protection team have launched an investigation to try and establish the source of the waste.

Evidence suggests the rubbish had been processed and had started to decompose before it was dumped in the lay-by.

Temporary traffic lights had to be installed by Warwickshire County Council's highways team yesterday (Thursday) while the waste was cleared by a council crew.

The clean-up took five-and-a-half hours, with seven tonnes of waste removed.

Signs appealing for witnesses have now been placed at the scene and the council has urged anyone with information about the fly-tip to come forward.

Sean Lawson, Rugby Borough Council's head of environment and public realm, said: "Fly-tippers cost the taxpayer millions of pounds a year, with Rugby alone facing a clean-up bill of £57,000 in 2016.

"This latest major fly-tip in the borough was carried out in broad daylight and the fact the waste appears to have been processed suggests it was the work of commercial fly-tippers, possibly posing as a legitimate waste disposal firm.

"I'd urge anyone who witnessed the fly-tip or who has any information which could help our investigation to contact our environmental protection team."

The council has joined Keep Britain Tidy's #CrimeNotToCare campaign to crackdown on fly-tipping.

The campaign's key message - 'Your Rubbish, Your Responsibility' - highlights the duty of care householders and businesses have when disposing of waste, even when paying a 'man with a van' or company to take the rubbish away.

The duty of care means if a householder or business fails to check whether a company or individual has a Waste Carrier Licence and the rubbish subsequently gets fly-tipped, the owner of the waste still has a legal responsibility and faces prosecution and a fine.

You can check whether an individual or company has a Waste Carrier Licence by calling the Environment Agency on 0370 8506 506.

Anyone with information about the fly-tip on the Fosse Way should contact the council's environmental protection team on (01788) 533533 or email ept@rugby.gov.uk

For more information about #CrimeNotToCare, or to report fly-tipping, visit www.rugby.gov.uk/flytipping

Photo caption: Seven tonnes of waste was dumped in a lay-by on the Fosse Way by fly-tippers.