A council whose patch has the highest rate of illegal fly tipping incidents in the whole of the North-East has reassured the public that enforcement action is being taken.

A total of 6,945 fly tips were reported in Redcar and Cleveland in 2022/23 – equating to 51 for every thousand residents.

This was actually down 19 per cent on the previous 12 months when 8,617 incidents were recorded.

The cost of clean-ups to the council in 2022/23 was £423,121, analysis of Defra figures shows.

Redcar and Cleveland Council said 126 fines – fixed penalty notices – were issued over the last 12 months after offenders were identified, while 16 prosecutions had taken place.

A spokesman for the council said: “Fly tipping is a scourge and we won’t hesitate to issue fixed penalty notices and prosecute in the courts when necessary.

“We have four teams operating across the borough who are actively involved in gathering evidence to help prosecute the worst offenders and to help end the blight of this anti-social crime.”

Jason Mohr, founder of LoveJunk, an online marketplace which connects householders and businesses to verified waste collectors who are licensed by the Environment Agency, claimed the current system of regulation, fines and prosecution was not properly working.

He said: “Fly tipping rates remain broadly unchanged, the chance of fly tippers getting caught and punished are remote, and the cost to the public of clear up and enforcement huge.”

Mr Mohr, whose company has compiled a report on the current fly tipping picture in local authority areas across the country, suggested one helpful measure was a change in the law so anyone collecting waste would be required to show photo ID and a legitimate waste carrier licence before picking up items.

Saltburn councillor Philip Thomson, who is vice chair of the council’s climate and environment scrutiny committee, said there was an ongoing issue with rubbish being dumped in rear alleys in his ward.

He said: “Members of the public, whoever they might be, take the opportunity to abandon waste beside bins and they are in some respects a magnet for fly tipping.”

Cllr Thomson said he had asked for information from the local authority about fly tipping and enforcement to be regularly presented to his committee, adding: “Members need to be clear about what we are actually doing in the way of enforcement.”

The councillor said the council faced a challenge with properties converted into homes of multiple occupation and landlords not making adequate provision for the disposal of tenants’ household waste.

Most read: 

Get more from The Northern Echo and stay informed with a subscription now available on special offer for four months for just £4. Click here 

He said: “Where proper planning permission is given there is a requirement to provide waste collection and recycling facilities.

“But what sometimes happens is not everyone acts responsibly.”

The council spokesman added: “Our waste recycling and disposal teams work with residents every day to help keep our borough’s streets clean and tidy.  “If any household doesn’t have a bin, we urge the relevant householder to get in touch as soon as possible.”