After Fly-Tipping rates increase by 300% in the four weeks since they closed in response to the Covid-19 crisis, Cllr Rachel Bailey has today raised with Cllr Laura Crane, Lead member for Waste and Recycling the need to liaise urgently with neighbouring Cheshire Authorities to consider safe mechanisms for the reopening of these centres, to protect residents from the ever-increasing risk of being scammed by rogue waste collectors, who regrettably, having made a cash charge to take the waste simply dump (fly tip) it in the countryside or on the roadside.
Two days ago Cllr Crane asked residents to store larger items of waste in the short term:
However, Cllr Crane accepts that not all residents are able to do this and has kindly agreed not only to raise the matter within Cheshire East but ensure it is discussed urgently with our neighbouring authorities. A harmonized reopening of the centres would not only deliver a strong ‘Cheshire message’ to the scammers but ensure that all authorities could better meet the anticipated demand.
In response to the rigours of the Covid 19 virus, 85% of the country’s HWRCs were closed. However authorities are now reviewing this and only today Wigan have announced the reopening of their facilities.
https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Bins-Recycling/Waste-and-Recycling-Centres.aspx
Fly tipping in Cheshire has increased by 300% since the closure of the areas HWRCs. The number of residents affected by the scam is currently unknown. Any reopening of the facilities would of course need to organised in order that the safety of staff and residents can be assured.
Photos:
1. Fly Tipping in South Cheshire (April 2020)
2. Fly Tipping in Macclesfield (April 2020: Cheshire Police Photo)
3. Cheshire East Public Waste Site
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