New campaign to tackle fly-tipping in Carmarthenshire

A NEW multi-agency drive to tackle fly-tipping is being launched in Carmarthenshire.

The week-long ‘Total Focus’ campaign will include clean-ups, community skip days, waste carrier stop-checks and duty of care advice to residents and businesses in fly-tipping hotspots throughout the county.

Part of the Fly-tipping Action Wales initiative, partners include Carmarthenshire County Council, Keep Wales Tidy, Dyfed-Powys Police, Environment Agency Wales, Tidy Towns, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Llwynhendy Communities First and Wales Probation Trust.

People are being warned to think twice before getting rid of any waste from their homes and businesses because if it is found fly-tipped they could be facing a large fine.

A number of awareness-raising activities will be held from Monday, August 8 to Saturday, August 13 in a bid to help keep the county clean.

‘Bring and Take’ community skip days will be held throughout the week where householders can take along any unwanted items such as toys, books and furniture in good condition to ‘swap’ as well as get rid of other household rubbish in the skips provided. They are taking place at Heol y Gelynen in Brynaman on Monday, August 8; Park Hall in Carmarthen on Wednesday, August 10; Caecoed in Llandybie on Thursday, August 11 and 5 Ty’s in Llanelli on Friday, August 12 all between 10am and 3pm.

On Tuesday, August 9, staff from the McDonald’s restaurants in Cross Hands, Carmarthen and Llanelli and other volunteers will be taking part in a litter-pick in the Cross Hands Business Park area. Council officers will also be on hand with information and advice on how to dispose of waste safely and there will be a competition with the chance to win an Ipod.

On Saturday, August 13, a ‘Recycling on the go’ event is being held in Nantgaredig Primary School between 8am and 10.30am. Residents are being encouraged to take along any household waste they have lying around the home including large bulky items to be recycled/disposed of. A collection point will be set up in the school.

Norma Green, project officer for Fly-tipping Action Wales in the Valleys Regional Park, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Carmarthenshire County Council and partners to tackle fly-tipping in one of the nine local authority areas within the Valleys Regional Park. Fly-tipping causes an un-necessary blight across communities in the Valleys and costs Welsh taxpayers over £2 million to clean up every year.

“Everyone is responsible for their own waste and can face stiff financial penalties if their waste is found fly-tipped. Everyone will be investing time and resources on this campaign and we hope everyone will play their part in keeping the community free from fly-tipping in future.”

Fly-tipping Action Wales is working with nine local authorities across South Wales through the Valleys Regional Park project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “There are no excuses for people to dispose of their household waste irresponsibly, a number of sites for household waste and recycling are provided throughout the county and the council also has a bulky waste collection service.

“If residents have any excess household waste to dispose of they must make sure that any

private individuals or companies they use are properly authorised to carry waste, if they don’t and their waste is found fly-tipped they could be prosecuted and fined.

“We all have a part to play in keeping our communities clean, the council is committed to tackling fly-tipping and by working together with our partners we can improve the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire for both residents and visitors.”

For further information on your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre or for a bulky waste collection call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567 or visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Please report a fly-tipped incident by calling Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567 or online at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

For further information on the work of the partnership in the Valleys Regional Park, a project funded by the European Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government, visit www.flytippingactionwales.org