Constantly, we are bombarded with news of fly-tipping, specifically in our local area. We always regard it as an eyesore and hideous, and we all agree that the people responsible for it should be punished and fined. However, even if we do fine these people, fly-tipping still occurs, with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents being dealt with by local authorities in the 2020/21 period alone. How can this cycle be broken?

While we can agree that the people who produces masses upon masses of pollution, which harms the natural environment, are doing so out of pure laziness and evasion from the landfill tax, a much greater question is posed as to how to prevent it.

Naturally, many resort to public shaming: obscene photos of mass dumpings and household waste scattered by motorways and paths are published in articles where they receive lots of traction and evoke extreme, hyper-emotional responses, particularly out of anger.

But, evidently, as we see fly-tipping continue, we realise this is simply not a viable way forward. In fact, what there is to continue with already, seems relatively ineffective. There are simple ways it can be stopped, such as by installing CCTV to catch those fly-tipping; but that helps more in punishing and identifying the fly-tippers rather than stopping them entirely.

A study in 2014 showed that when people saw illegal dumping of rubbish around them or in their area, they were more likely to begin illegally dumping themselves. While it might seem frustrating, the way forward should be, when fly-tipping is seen, it should be immediately cleaned up by members of the local community, instead of being publicised for intense, fleeting reactions.

Yet the way forward should also be handled responsibly, too.

Reaching out to Darlington Borough Council, they referred to their website, which declares, "Please do not touch anything within the fly tip for your own safety and to ensure evidence remains intact."

While it may be tempting to immediately clean up the fly tip, it is unknown what form of waste could be contained within it, so it would be responsible to report the fly tip for clearance first, in the link at the end of the article.

So, now we have established the best way to eradicate fly-tipping, we must put our words into actions. Instead of becoming angry, or irritated, or upset, we should feel something other than an instant emotion towards cleaning up our local community, and use our brains, instead.

If the psychology behind the 2014 study mentioned before is correct, then arguably, if we all begin to clean up fly tips (after the appropriate measures are considered) then we can possibly begin to deter people from fly-tipping altogether, cleaning up our local community entirely.

 

https://www.darlington.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/street-scene/fly-tipping-and-needles/

 

By Kaysan Azam-McArdle