In response to the growing problem of fly-tipping across the UK during the Covid-19 lockdown, sustainable waste management company Biffa has today launched an initiative to help businesses tackle illegal dumping on their land.
Biffa, which is the UK’s leading collector of business waste, has launched a new mobile application for recording fly tipping incidents and fly-tipping clearance service which allows organisations such as retailers, private landowners and estate managers to report incidents of fly-tipping and its exact location using GPS – Biffa will then attend and remove the material typically within 24 hours*, before processing it in the most environmentally responsible way possible. The data collected will be made available to DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) to contribute to overall national fly-tipping statistics.
The app has been launched in response to the increase in fly-tipping since lockdown began, with local councils reporting sharp rises and The Countryside Alliance describing a 300% rise in incidents in some areas. The removal of fly-tipping, which is punishable by a fine of up to £50,000 or up to five years in prison, has been declared a high priority service by DEFRA during the coronavirus crisis as a build up of waste poses public health concerns.
George Pearce, Commercial Development Manager at Biffa, commented:
“It’s unfortunate to see that the current crisis is serving to exacerbate the already significant and growing problem of fly tipping. It is a crime that damages our health, the environment and businesses in what is already an extremely challenging time. I hope our new initiative to help tackle fly-tipping will provide some relief.
“I would also take this opportunity to warn individuals and businesses against the risk of employing unregistered waste removal services, which have become more prolific since the lockdown began. These services are illegal, can be part of organised crime groups and are often the perpetrators of fly-tipping.”
Sarah Lee, Head of Policy at the Countryside Alliance, added:
“The images of fly-tipping, though horrendous, are an all too familiar sight and an issue the Countryside Alliance has long campaigned on which is why we welcome this initiative by Biffa to tackle the increase in fly-tipping at these uncertain times. It shouldn’t need saying that driving to dump rubbish in your town at the side of the road or in the countryside is not essential travel. Not only are you committing an offence by littering, but you are also ignoring guidance that has been introduced to stop the spread of this dangerous virus. Please remember that fly-tipping is not a victimless crime and has a significant impact on our rural areas and wildlife.”
*time varies depending on scale of incident
-ends-
For further information, contact:
Houston
0203 701 7660
About FlyMapper
Biffa FlyMapper is the latest addition to the FlyMapper group of applications, which have been the national fly-tipping recording and monitoring systems in Scotland and Wales since 2014. A version for private landowners in England is also currently being trialled by DEFRA. More information can be found at https://www.biffa.co.uk/flymapper
About Biffa
Biffa is the UK's leading sustainable waste management business. We have over 8,000 employees working across more than 200 sites to change the way people think about waste. We operate across the waste management value chain, including the collection, treatment, processing and disposal of waste, as well as the production and sale of recovered commodities such as energy, paper, glass, metals and plastic. We are first choice for customers, with our national customer base including local authorities, large corporates and SMEs, and purchasers of end-product commodities and energy. We are structured in to two divisions: Collections and Resources & Energy. In FY19, the Group's total revenue was £1,091.2m and its Underlying EBITDA was £150.7m. Biffa has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since in October 2016 under the ticker "BIFF".
For more information please visit www.biffa.co.uk
