WOOLY dumpers are being sought after piles of textiles were fly tipped on a pretty Devon lane.
Environmental officers in mid Devon report a spate of incidents involvingapte of large quantities of textiles being dumped which suggest it could be a commercial operation.
All of the incidents have similarities in that all the waste has been contained in duvet covers, probably for quick removal from a vehicle.
Mid Devon councillor Neil Davey, Cabinet Member for the Environment says "We are puzzled why this material is being dumped as it can easily be put it out for recycling and collected for free, or taken to one of the many textile banks sited across the District. Any dumping spoils the environment for us all and costs the local taxpayer to remove."
"We investigated 554 incidents of fly tipping last year. The estimated cost of clearance of fly tipping to local authorities in England in 2013/14 was £45.2 million, a 24% increase on 2012/13.
"The Council will always prosecute offenders where sufficient evidence is found. Fly tipping is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the penalties for illegally dumping waste are high."
Fly-tippers can be fined up to £50,000 in Magistrates' Courts and face unlimited fines in higher Courts, as well as prison sentences of up to five years. In April 2014 an East Devon man appeared in Exeter Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to fly tipping in Mid Devon. Judge Nichols fined him £600 for committing the offence, he was also ordered to pay us £1,546 in costs and he paid a victim surcharge of £60.
If you have any information or you witness fly tipping please contact us on 01884 255255 or email customerfirst@middevon.gov.uk
