Tip of the Binberg
This report, Tip of the Binberg, was commissioned by Dsposal and supported by the GC Business Growth Hub. It was authored by Beasley Associates Waste Management Consultants UK and RGR following their study on waste crime in Greater Manchester with a focus on fly-tipping.
Fly-tipping is a significant and persistent problem in Greater Manchester, with local authorities reporting nearly 53,000 separate incidents in 2016/17. That is 144 incidents for every single day of the year, costing the councils of Greater Manchester nearly £4.9 million in clearance and enforcement costs. In addition, a conservative average estimate of around £750,000 represents income lost by not recycling these materials. Further to this, HMRC loses out on VAT and income tax on part of the estimated £3 million a year generated in cash sales by man and a van operators providing waste clearance services in and around Greater Manchester, many of whom are unlicensed.
Waste Crime
The circumstances in which this persistent but relatively low-level waste crime develops are reinforced by the public's prioritisation of low cost and convenience when choosing waste clearance services, rather than compliance with duty of care.
Awareness of legal obligations around waste is low and often confused among the general public. Unlicensed waste clearance operators take advantage of this by obscuring the checks that even well-intentioned members of the public need to make in order to do the right thing and deal with their waste properly and legally.
Greater Manchester's Response to the Binberg
The councils of Greater Manchester are tackling the challenge of fly-tipping and have achieved some success despite severe restrictions on available resources and the limited effect so far of national campaigns to raise awareness of legal responsibilities around waste for businesses and householders alike.
To make further progress in tackling fly-tipping, everyone with an interest in the issue needs to collaborate and build on the substantial efforts already being made in the face of an endemic problem. The report offers broad recommendations for further consideration, including the need to simplify the process by which householders and businesses can verify the legitimacy of rubbish clearance services and waste management companies.
Download the Tip of the Binberg Report
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