New legislation to crack down on the scourge of fly-tipping has moved a step closer with the launch of the consultation period on Murdo Fraser's Member’s Bill on the subject.
The Scottish Conservative MSP believes the first legislation on fly-tipping affecting Scotland for 30 years is essential to stop unwanted refuse and waste being dumped – often by organised crime gangs, who profit from it.
Murdo Fraser’s bill has the backing of bodies including Scottish Land & Estates and NFU Scotland, and he is seeking submissions from other interested parties and individuals before finalising and presenting it to the Scottish Parliament.
He is seeking to improve on the current legislation on fly-tipping which dates back to 1990.
The consultation period on the Bill opens on March 1.
The proposed legislation aims to better the law in four main ways:
- Ensure better data collection and reporting mechanisms to give a clearer picture of the number of fly-tipping incidents
- Legal liability – to ensure the person on whose land or property waste has been dumped is not responsible in law for its removal
- Strict liability on the generator of the waste for clearing it up and paying any fines for its disposal, as is the case in England and Wales
- Increasing and standardising sanctions, including substantially lifting the current fixed-penalty notice threshold of £200.
The consultation period on the bill will run until May 23.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “I’m delighted to be launching the consultation period ahead of what I believe is an essential new piece of legislation.
“Fly-tipping causes great environmental damage and creates an eyesore that blights both our countryside and urban areas.
“It’s selfish and irresponsible to dump refuse and waste at unauthorised locations – and completely unnecessary when there are adequate facilities for lawfully getting rid of unwanted items.
“And, of course, landowners and public authorities are left with the cost of cleaning up the mess left by others.
“The current law already provides for both criminal sanctions and civil liabilities against fly-tipping, but reported incidents – often carried out by organised crime gangs - are on the increase which is why I believe new legislation is required.
“This bill will strengthen the law and toughen the punishments for fly-tipping. I want to thank those who have helped with their support and input to the bill and would urge everyone interested to get involved in the consultation process if they feel improvements can be made to it.
“This is not a partisan or party political bill, but a common-sense piece of legislation to tackle a growing scourge on our landscape, so I hope and expect in due course that it will receive backing from members across the Scottish Parliament.”
Scottish Land & Estates policy adviser Simon Ovenden added: “The tidal wave of builders’ rubbish, household junk and toxic waste engulfing our beautiful countryside must be stopped.
“To help end this often large-scale criminal activity, we believe greater public education regarding the true impact of fly-tipping is needed, as well as tougher prison sentences, significantly higher fines, scrapping the offender’s vehicle and making the polluter pay for the clean-up, rather than the innocent victim who owns the property.
“Our livestock, wildlife and environment deserve better.
“We were pleased to help Mr Fraser develop his Member’s Bill and strongly support the bill’s intentions to rid Scotland of fly-tipping once and for all.”
And NFU Scotland vice-president Robin Traquair commented: “The all-too-frequent, dreadful sight of abandoned, sometimes dangerous, waste is not simply an eyesore on Scotland’s beautiful countryside - it can, and does, cause harm to livestock, crops, nature and wildlife.
“It is an issue that farmers are having to deal with more often, costing them not just in terms of money but also large amounts of their time.
“Fly-tipping is such a major issue across Scotland that action needs to be taken to change the law when it comes to dealing with those responsible. Such positive action to tackle fly-tipping, through this Private Member’s Bill, is something NFU Scotland would fully support.”
A copy of the consultation document can be viewed below.