Southwark Council cracks down on fly tippers

19 January 2018

Southwark Council is cracking down on fly tipping and recently added ZA Afro Foods Ltd, of 80 Rye Lane, Peckham, to their list of successful prosecutions. The business received fines of £1,000, costs of £1,078 and a victim surcharge of £100, at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court, on 15 January.

The council has a continuous, excellent record in dealing with fly tipping, with 95 percent of reported instances responded to within 24 hours. The council has also issued 226 fines to businesses and individuals for fly tipping, from April last year.

ZA Afro Foods Ltd fell foul of the council when one of their employees was observed illegally throwing boxes into the back of a Southwark refuse truck, this is extremely dangerous as this type of vehicle contains a hydraulic system that is designed to compress and crush waste.

Eyesores, such as illegal rubbish, detract from Southwark’s neighbourhoods and local streets. Fly tipping impacts on the council’s and the local community’s investment in highlighting the history and character in local neighbourhoods and on open spaces across the borough.  Not only does fly tipping affect residents’, visitors’, and businesses’ overall enjoyment of local areas, it can also cause an increase in pests and vermin.

Councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for environment and the public realm, said: “Dumping rubbish is illegal, antisocial and disrespectful to the people who live, work and visit here. I am delighted that the courts saw fit to impose significant costs and fines on ZA Afro Foods Ltd, let this be a lesson to anyone considering fly tipping in Southwark.”

Page last updated: 19 January 2018