Councils and partners in Nottinghamshire are coming together to tackle environmental crime.

Branded as the Cleaner Nottinghamshire Group, representatives from across the county ­­­­­­­­— including Mansfield, Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood district councils ­— are sharing resources and intelligence to investigate fly-tipping offences across borders.

Using a system provided by Nottinghamshire Police, agencies are able to share intelligence around illegal waste carriers, vehicles used in fly-tipping offences and perpetrators of waste crime.

The Cleaner Nottinghamshire Group is made up of all Nottinghamshire local authorities, Highways England, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Environment Agency.

Fly-tipping is a blight on Nottinghamshire’s landscape and many instances of this environmental crime are carried out by individuals operating as illegal waste carriers. Residents and businesses are urged to check that any company or individual they engage to dispose of their waste is properly licenced.

Waste carrier licences can be checked on the Environment Agency website https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index

Coun Amanda Fisher, portfolio holder for safer communities and wellbeing at Mansfield District Council, said: “We already work closely with various organisations in our efforts to tackle fly-tipping, but this new partnership will strengthen our ability to identify those responsible and make sure they don’t get away with it.

“We want people to feel pride for their town and so encourage the public to check individuals or businesses disposing of their waste have a valid waste carrier’s licence.

“We also rely on people to report fly-tippers to help us to make the district a clean, welcoming place.”

In Ashfield, Coun Helen-Ann Smith, deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for streets, parks and town centres, said: “The council is serious about its desire to tackle fly-tipping in Ashfield.

“We have installed CCTV cameras and carried out a number of sting operations and targeted campaigns to catch perpetrators and let them know that fly-tipping will not be tolerated.”

“Working with our partners across the county we are now able to share intelligence to catch and deal robustly with those who make a living from waste crime with targeted enforcement action.”

Fly-tipping in England cost the taxpayer £12.2m in 2018. Eradicating fly tipping in Ashfield would save the council around £30k, which would enable the it to expand on planned tree planting projects or invest in green technology-based maintenance equipment.

Both of these options support the council’s commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing CO² emissions.

Flytipping in Mansfield district can be reported at www.mansfield.gov.uk/flytipping