99 fined in Islington fly-tipping cases

Islington Council has cracked down on fly-tipping bringing nearly 100 cases where people were fined for dumping rubbish last year.

The council brought 99 successful prosecutions which resulted in fines between April 2010 and March 2011 which was the second highest of any London borough.

The information, which emerged through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the Countryside Alliance, revealed the council carried out 9,023 enforcement actions involving warning letters, statutory notices, duty of care inspections, investigations and prosecutions. Cllr Paul Smith, Islington Council’s executive member for environment said: “We have taken a strong line on the minority of people who engage in anti-social behaviour and make a mess of the local street environment.

Anti-social

“It is not fair that Islington residents should have to put up with this anti-social behaviour, as it is ultimately the residents who have to pay the price.”

In one incident two men were convicted and sentenced to a jail term for illegally disposing of a controlled waste, when they dumped used car tyres in York Road, King’s Cross.

It is estimated the council spent �88,000 clearing fly tipping waste during the 12 months. Last year fly tipping cost British taxpayers �40million.

Fly-tipping is more than three refuse bags of waste or dumped items that would be collected via a refuse service such as electrical and household appliances. The council offers a free bulky waste and white goods service for residents of up to five items per collection, three times a year.

There is also a free recycling centre for residents in Hornsey Street, Holloway.