Fly-tipping - the movie

[Dogtrousers]

Beddlestead lane in Kent is a hot spot for fly-tipping. This isn't the first time I've come across scenes like this on that stretch of road.

From my ride yesterday

View: https://youtu.be/qzfhB-TlW8s?si=qYBrN2TfKaI9uhxQ


Video quality is pretty poor. Probably because I clicked the "rubbish quality" checkbox somewhere along the line when editing. The Cycliq camera itself produces much better quality. But the subject matter doesn't warrant closer examination.

Incidentally, and unrelated, the very start of this video is a point where, in the past I've cleared up piles of over 20 gel wrappers. It seemed local cyclists were fuelling up for the gruelling ascent of the Beast of Beddlestead (100m over 3km. woo) and chucking their gel wrappers at the base of a tree there. This particular problem seems to have stopped.

It's also where (part of) the video for Sea Power's Machineries of Joy video was filmed. You can see it in a much better light (and better quality) in that video.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Incidentally, and unrelated, the very start of this video is a point where, in the past I've cleared up piles of over 20 gel wrappers. It seemed local cyclists were fuelling up for the gruelling ascent of the Beast of Beddlestead (100m over 3km. woo) and chucking their gel wrappers at the base of a tree there. This particular problem seems to have stopped.

Back when periodic walks were with rubbish bags and pick-up thingy, specific roads were invariable badly polluted with empty cyclists' gel packs. And whilst I don't do Strava Segments, I do uswe Strava to pass my rides to VeloViewer and those badly gel pack polluted roads are also the local Strava Segments.

(Gave up litter picking walks after two incidents: I take several rubbish bags and when one is full I'll catch somebody in their garden and ask to put it in their bin and one walk an entire hamlet all said "no" after I'd cleaned up their hamlet, then 2nd incident I cleaned one road on Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon cycled the road and the litter had returned (local lorry depot) - so decided it was a fools game, people just don't care and you're fighting a losing battle).

 

[Red17]

That road does seem to attract flly tippers, but the video is probably as bad as I have seen it

 

[Dogtrousers]

That road does seem to attract flly tippers, but the video is probably as bad as I have seen it

There were some big dumps on Layham's Road not far away too. I have in the past seen Beddlestead completely blocked and had to pick my bike up and tiptoe carefully over the rubbish.

 

[Drago]

I caught someone flytipping during lockdown. I was out for a ride and in one country lane passed him as he was dumping his crap off a bridge into a gully below. I dont thing he even heard me.

I recognised him and the car as living in the next street to me, and gleefully reported him. I was even more filled with glee when the council officer that got back to me turned out to be a retired bobby id worked with about 20 years prior.

I also saw another one last year. Was walking th3 dog and about 100 metres more so ahead a car pulled up a lay by, the driver hooped out, pulled a large flat screen tv from his boot, propped it against a litter bin and sped off. I dont see how he could not have spotted me but he still did it. I got the reg and grassed him too, but dont know if he ever got stiffed over it,

The penalties should be draconian and well publicised, and LAs should stop making it difficult to access the local tip.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The penalties should be draconian and well publicised, and LAs should stop making it difficult to access the local tip.

It's a big problem. It must be incredibly easy to get away with, chances of getting caught probably minimal so the penaties aren't much of a deterrent.

The other issue is that the lanes of Kent, which are massively fly tipped, are probably receiving rubbish that originated in London or the Medway Towns. So the problem gets displaced. A LA that's short of cash can save money by limiting access to the tip, and the resultant fly tipping isn't their problem as it occurs somewhere else.

I notice a LOT of wooden pallets. Why can't they be reused? Surely it could be cost efficient to do that.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The penalties should be draconian and well publicised, and LAs should stop making it difficult to access the local tip.

My local tip now only opens Thursdays and Sundays and you have to book in advance. Fair enough I live in a quiet rural area and seven day opening is unnecessary, but at least one more day is needed and that is reflected in the amount of fly tipping round here,

 

[Drago]

Our local tips are now appointment only and difficult to access for those that have jobs (everyone wants a weekend appointment and all slots get booked up as far in advance) The carncil claim it doesn't increase fly tipping.

They've also placed limits on the number of visits, and thus the amount one can get shot of, despite their being no legislative basis for declining access because someone has exceeded their visit quota.

Meanwhile in an adjoining county, the local carncil are run by the same party and as a trial are doing away with appointments because they reckon its pushed up the amount of fly tipping.

You couldn't make it up.

 

[Binky]

Flying tipping is one of the scourges of this country(and others no doubt).

What gets me is some obviously go to more trouble to dump shite somewhere they shouldn't when a local recycling centre etc is closer.
I've reported stuff to local council but how quick if at all it's actioned is another matter.
I think massive fines and or jail time should be handed out, given the extent of fly tipping whatever are the current penalities aren't a deterrent.

 

[Binky]

Our local tips are now appointment only and difficult to access for those that have jobs (everyone wants a weekend appointment and all slots get booked up as far in advance) The carncil claim it doesn't increase fly tipping.

They've also placed limits on the number of visits, and thus the amount one can get shot of, despite their being no legislative basis for declining access because someone has exceeded their visit quota.

Meanwhile in an adjoining county, the local carncil are run by the same party and as a trial are doing away with appointments because they reckon its pushed up the amount of fly tipping.

You couldn't make it up.

Since COVID we've had to book tip trips, limited to 3 a week which for most people is more than enough but I've maxed out several times in summer with hedge cutting etc of garden. There are two recycling centres nearish me, however they only open a couple days a week. As i've retired it's no issue for weekday but one opens Sat and I can usually get a spot no problem but we are in a quiet rural/coastal area.

Regardless of all that, there's zero excuse for fly tipping.

 

[wiggydiggy]

My local tip is ok, can be busy at the weekends but it's free and none appointment.

My ride today, along the Huddersfield Broad Canal, I was astonished at the sheer volume of litter and detritus dumped around and in it. Some seemed to be as a result of people wanting to break the ice - a wheelbarrow was on top of one patch - but seeing a tent and then an industrial size bin in the canal was a first for me.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

a large flat screen tv from his boot, propped it against a litter bin and sped off.

My local tip now only opens Thursdays and Sundays and you have to book in advance. Fair enough I live in a quiet rural area and seven day opening is unnecessary, but at least one more day is needed and that is reflected in the amount of fly tipping round here,

I believe policy of many councils is encouraging more low volume fly-tipping (and failure to properly recycle e-waste eg the TV mentioned above).

Last time I took stuff to my local council recycling centre before they then introduced an advance booking system) they tried to charge me for small volume non-commercial recyclable (wood) domestic waste. I refused to pay saying maybe I should just use my landfill bin over a few collections and what was recyclable would go to landfill with associated costs and daftness.

I'd not resort to fly-tipping but faced with having to book in advance, unsure if they still charge, etc. I can see many just wouldn't bother and in rural areas just leave that larger item in the car boot and briefly stop at a ditch next trip into town. Counterproductive.

 

[BoldonLad]

Fly tipping is a significant problem in my area.

The good news is, the Council are quick to clear fly tipping, if reported (I always report any that I see, via "FixMyStreet", on my rides.)

Removing it is not. really the answer however, it is prevention that is needed.

The chances of being caught appear to be minimal, so, regardless of the penalties, the risk appears worth it.

There are facilities available (free) to dispose of unwanted stuff, they are easy to use, if you have a car, impossible without a car.

Our local "tip" has an appointment system, which, personally, I prefer, rather than turn up and sit in an enormous queue (a 20 minute wait was not unusual, before appointments).

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Tips round here are free and no appointment needed
WHen my now-wife moved in here we (i.e. me) had to clear out the more obvious junk from her house

The tips around where she had lived required you to log in with the operator and you were only allowed there once a day and twice a week

so I generally went there once - then gave up and just came back to where I live
at one point I was there for about the 4th time that day and one of the people there came over to help me with a large box
he did ask a few questions but in a friendly way
I said I was clearing out a house we were selling and he just said he thought as much as I had been there a lot recently
I have seen them refuse to let someone unload - but he was an idiot and clearly pushing it

 

[lazybloke]

Not the best movie this month, but maybe the Director's Cut will be worth a try.