Camera crackdown on fly-tippers in East Dunbartonshire

This year, the council has so received 373 complaints of fly-tipping, This compares to 281 for the same period in 2019.

The council said this rise in littering created the need for additional clean-ups of affected areas at a time when council resources are under pressure due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Council officers are now working alongside police to tackle the problem which has resulted in individuals being charged.

High quality mobile CCTV cameras are also being used at known fly-tipping hot spots.

Joint Council Leader Vaughan Moody, said: “Our teams have been working hard to combat this anti-social behaviour, despite the restrictions of lockdown.

“Many of the worst affected areas have been where there is already a recycling facility. Spot checks have revealed that these are nowhere near capacity and yet a persistent minority has been using these facilities as a dumping ground instead of travelling to Mavis Valley.”

Joint Council Leader Andrew Polson, added: “Mobile CCTV cameras have helped with a number of anti-social problems in the past and we hope they can help us address the ongoing issue of fly-tipping. The better quality of cameras now being deployed means that we have a higher chance of tracking down those responsible.”

Chief Inspector Lorna Gibson, Area Commander East Dunbartonshire, said: “Not only is fly-tipping unsightly, dangerous and expensive to clean up, it is also a criminal offence. Fly-tipping involves the illegal dumping of waste onto land which has no licence to accept it and can range from a bin bag of household rubbish to large quantities of tyres and construction waste. Anyone involved in fly-tipping should expect to be dealt with robustly.”

Residents can report fly-tipping in confidence by calling Customer Services on 0300 123 4510 or by logging on to www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk and searching ‘fly-tipping’.