Shocking images have revealed the scale of fly-tipping in Lancashire, with tonnes of rubbish dumped on an 'industrial scale' near a beauty spot in Burnley. The incident comes as waste recycling centres across the UK close due to the coronavirus lockdown, leading to a surge in illegal dumping.
Photographs show household items such as furniture, black bin bags, cardboard boxes, and even a tyre piled up over the edge of a lay-by on the A671. One bag was seen stuck on a tree branch, apparently lobbed down the bank by a culprit. A banner reading 'lets scrap fly tipping' has been hung from a railing to deter offenders.
In Lancashire alone, 16 waste and recycling centres have shut down, including several near the fly-tipping hotspot. Councils have reported an uptick in incidents, with some areas seeing a 300% increase. The closures, due to social distancing guidelines, have prompted calls for recycling centre employees to be reclassified as essential workers.
Fly-tipping is illegal and can result in a £400 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine. However, according to the Countryside Alliance, only one in 600 incidents leads to prosecution. Between 2018 and 2019, there were over one million instances of fly-tipping in England, costing between £100 million and £150 million to clean up.
A Burnley Council spokesman condemned the act, stating: 'It's beyond belief that someone could destroy our beautiful countryside without a thought or a care.' The council is working with partners to remove the waste safely. Sarah Lee of the Countryside Alliance added: 'Driving to dump rubbish is not essential travel. Not only are you committing an offence, but you are also ignoring guidance to stop the spread of this dangerous virus.'
