Clinical waste dumped in Falkirk as flytipping increases

Fed-up landowners say that fly tipping has risen massively while council tips are closed due to the lockdown.
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The group Scottish Land and Estates has highlighted the worst examples across the country, including white bags of clinical waste being dumped in Falkirk.

Chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing said: “The message to the public is clear: if your bin is overflowing or you are having a clear-out, please keep your rubbish on your own property until the tips reopen.

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"How would you feel if you had to clear up someone else’s asbestos, dirty nappies or human faeces from your property?”

Flytipping has increased during lockdownFlytipping has increased during lockdown
Flytipping has increased during lockdown

Other groups, including Zero Waste Scotland and SEPA are also pleading with people to act responsibly.

Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald is also asking his constituents to report any illegal dumping to the ‘Dumb Dumpers’ website online.

Mr Macdonald said: “This is a difficult time for all of us, but we owe a huge thank you to those in the waste industry who are working to keep as many services running as possible.

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“The safety of these workers and the general public has to be the priority, and councils also need to consider staffing shortages and physical distancing before our local recycling centres can re-open.

“While these workers do their best for us, it’s important that we continue to do what we can to help them by pitching in to crack down on illegal fly tippers in Falkirk district.

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Refuse collectors are working in exceptional conditions to maintain as many essential services as they can.

"Now is a good time to avoid wasting so much as this is ultimately the best way to help councils cope."

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SLE is also calling on the Scottish Government to allow local tips to reopen if social distancing measures can be followed safely by staff and the public.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked at her daily briefing if she would sanction the reopening of recycling centres.

She said: “We will do that if and when we consider it safe to do so. We launched earlier this week as public campaign around flytipping and the need to be responsible.

"So we are very aware of this issue and want to make sure we take steps up to including reopening places to reduce the impact of this.”

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