“Lazy Fifers” to blame as instances of fly tipping soar

That the view of a leading councillor after new figures confirm a 35 per cent increase in the number of instances of fly tipping in just three years.

The number has lept to 4233 in 2018/19 compared to 3134 in 2016/17.

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However, Cllr Ross Vettraino, Fife Council’s convener of the environment, protective services and community safety committee, said that it was the dumping of domestic rubbish rather than commercial waste that was the problem.

There has been a spike in the instances in illegal tipping across the Kirkcaldy area in the last 12 months, with areas such as Heatherywood close to Redhouse roundabout considered the most blighted hotspot for dumping in Fife.

The increase has been described as worrying by Cllr Tim Brett, Liberal Democrat group leader in Fife.

“The council needs to take robust action against anyone found doing this and also take action to clear up fly tipping when it occurs as quickly as possible,” said Mr Brett.

Fellow councillor Margaret Kennedy added: “We warned that there could be an increase in fly tipping when the opening hours of the recycling centres were reduced.”

Responding to the concerns Cllr Vettraino said: “I am hopeful that the new mapping technique will improve the performance of the Council’s environmental enforcement resource, but prosecutions will still depend on being able to identify those who are dumping.

“There is no evidence that there is an increase in the amount of commercial waste that is being illegally dumped,

“Inspections of of illegal dumping have revealed that it is domestic waste that is being dumped, which means that there are members of the community, who care nothing for the environment or for those with whom they share it and who refuse to take advantage of the excellent facilities that the council offers.”

And Cllr Vettraino hit out at those responsible for blighting communities.

“Every person in Fife has reasonable access to the sites, but simply will not use them, because they either don’t care about the environment or are too lazy!

“Illegal dumping isn’t happening because the service isn’t good enough, illegal dumping is happening because those who do so just don’t care.”