AFTA was set up by long-standing business operators within the waste industry with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the root causes of waste crimes such as fly-tipping. They have witnessed and cleared thousands of fly-tipping incidents over many years, while rogue operators profit and bring the industry into disrepute.
Fly-tipping is out of control – It’s a selfish, callous crime against the environment, wildlife and us all. AFTA along with our community, members and partners WILL patiently and ASSERTIVELY work together to resolve the current “I’m alright, Jack” attitude, through education, enforcement, engagement and the implementation of practical ideas and solutions.
AFTA is made up of bona fide operators exasperated with the relatively low penalties that make fly-tipping a low-risk and high-reward crime, along with the current failings within the waste carrier registration system. For decades local authorities and central government have tried numerous initiatives and methods to deal with the fly-tipping issue with little or no impact.
Even the Environmental Services Association admit there are failings in the waste carriers’ registration system, which unfortunately makes it all too easy for criminal operators to appear legitimate.
The licensing system should be one way of stopping fly-tippers, but anyone can get a licence by filling in an online form and paying a fee.
There is a question that asks if the applicant has been convicted of an environmental crime, but convicted criminals can still get a licence even if they admit to the offence on the form.
ESA head of regulation Sam Corp said: ‘Regulating against this behaviour and prosecuting offenders is challenging.
Corp said the ESA had twice produced reports on deficiencies in the licensing system, but ‘there are failings in the waste carriers’ registration system which unfortunately make it all too easy for criminal operators to appear legitimate’.
Quick Facts and Figures
- The most common size category for fly-tipping incidents in 2018/19 was equivalent to a ‘small van load’.
- In 2018/19 there were 36,000 incidents involving a ‘tipper lorry load’ size or larger, similar to 2017/18 incidents.
- Nearly two thirds (62%) of fly-tips involved household waste.
The biggest percentage of fly-tipping cases in the UK stem from household waste, which makes up a massive 62%. This is primarily due to incidents involving private individuals and home trade services such as house clearance, rubbish removal, man and van, scrap metal dealers, skip hire, landscape gardeners, builders, roofers, cleaning companies, plumbers, joiners and so on.
According to a new survey conducted by online furniture retailer Furniture and Choice.
Despite fly-tipping being illegal, according to a new survey conducted by online furniture retailer Furniture and Choice, which was conducted on over 1,000 individuals, revealed the top reasons for fly-tipping in the UK to be:
- 13% of the public admit to fly-tipping.
- There is nowhere else to take rubbish (38%).
- Unaware it was illegal (28%).
- It was the easiest option available (22%).
- The cost of disposing of it properly was too high (16%).
- Because they could get away with it (11%).
- One in eight UK residents admits to illegal fly-tipping.
AFTA adds an extra solid layer of protection against the failings within the waste carriers’ registration system.
To combat the serious multiple failings in the waste carriers’ registration system, businesses applying to become members of AFTA must read our members’ charter and agree to it in full, but more importantly, members must agree to allow AFTA to routinely conduct unannounced requests for their company to produce its latest waste disposal receipts; this confirms to AFTA that our members are in a consistent routine of disposing of waste legally.
Note! Any member failing to comply with our request to produce waste receipts will result in immediate expulsion from the association.
