RESIDENTS, businesses and landowners in Wyre Forest are being urged to back a new campaign to put an end to flytipping in the district.

The Let's SCRAP Flytipping campaign, which launched today, aims to reduce the amount of waste being dumped by roadsides and at local beauty spots.

Last year, there were more than 700 incidents of flytipping reported across Wyre Forest, costing thousands of pounds in public funds to clear.

Now Wyre Forest District Council is calling on members of the public to help prevent waste from getting into the hands of flytippers, and is encouraging people to report incidents so that action can be taken against those responsible.

Councillor Helen Dyke, cabinet member for community protection, said: "I really hope the public will get behind this new campaign. No one likes to see our district blighted in this way.

“Not only is it antisocial, but it also poses a danger to health and goes against everything we are trying to achieve to keep our district clean, safe and looking good.

“Residents have a big part to play by make sure their waste does not end up in the hands of flytippers and I hope everyone gets behind this new campaign so we can crack down on flytipping.”

The first stage of the campaign is urging residents to check the credentials of anyone they might pay to take away household waste to ensure it is legally disposed of.

A checklist asks people to:

S - Suspect all waste carriers

C - Check with the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 that they are licensed

R - Refuse unexpected offers to have waste taken away

A - Ask what will happen to the waste

P - Paperwork check they have the correct waste carrier licence and get a full receipt

Cabinet member for operational services Cllr John Thomas said: "Our enforcement team investigates every incident to try and trace those responsible and bring them to book.

“If we have evidence or witness reports we can issue fixed penalty notices or refer cases to the courts which have additional powers to issue fines or even imprison those responsible, but to do this we need the public’s support."

Flytipping of household, industrial and commercial waste carries an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to five years.

For updates on the Let's SCRAP Flytipping campaign, visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/flytipping.