This comes as Defra formally reviews and explores a ban on the use of booking systems at HWRCs, “as they could be increasing the risk of fly-tipping” (see letsrecycle.com story).
The latest Welsh government data shows that Newport saw the highest number of fly-tipping incidents in Wales in the past year. The local authority recorded 7,621 incidents in 2021/22, an increase from 4,060 in the previous year.
In light of this information, one councillor asked in a formal question on 3 October if a review of the booking system at the council’s sole HWRC at Maesglas was one of the options under consideration to reduce fly-tipping.
Cllr Yvonne Forsey, Newport’s cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity, defended the system, saying there was “no evidence” to link it with an increase in fly-tipping. Instead, she attributed the spike to the increased activity carried out by the council teams to tackle fly-tipping, meaning more incidents were now reported.
“The booking system has brought many benefits in a number of areas that traditionally posed a problem on site and that impacted on safety, performance and customer satisfaction,” she said.
Cllr Forsey added that it also resulted in an improved recycling performance and the council receiving the ‘civic amenity site of the year’ award last year (see letsrecycle.com story). “A similar system is now used in most councils in Wales.”
Response team
Cllr Forsey explained that the cabinet had invested in a second dedicated fly-tipping response team, while there has been “increased action and enforcement” against fly-tipping, leading to a higher frequency of incidents being proactively detected and reported.
She added that residents have also been encouraged to report fly-tipping through the council’s website.
The council manages its HWRC in-house. It operates on a booking-only system, which was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The booking can be made online or via phone, with the site open from 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 5pm at the weekend.
With an estimated population of 145,000, Newport had a recycling rate of 67% in 2020/21.
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