Waste firm Biffa launches app tackling fly-tipping in Portsmouth

Biffa, a business waste collector operating in Portsmouth from a depot in Airport Service Road in Copnor, has launched a new mobile phone app for recording illegal dumps.

The app allows organisations such as retailers, private landowners and estate managers to report incidents of fly-tipping and its exact location using a GPS tag.

Biffa will then attend and remove the material in a target time of within 24 hours, before processing it as environmentally responsible as possible.

The data collected will be made available to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to contribute to overall national fly-tipping statistics.

The app has been launched in response to fears of an increase in fly-tipping since lockdown began, with councils reporting sharp rises and The Countryside Alliance describing a 300 per cent rise in incidents in some areas.

Fly-tipping is punishable by a fine of up to £50,000 or up to five years in prison.

Its removal has been declared a high priority service by Defra during the coronavirus crisis as a build up of waste poses public health concerns.

Hampshire and Portsmouth councils are now trying to reopen their waste centres in response.

George Pearce, commercial development manager at Biffa, said: ‘It’s unfortunate to see that the current crisis is serving to exacerbate the already significant and growing problem of fly tipping.

‘It is a crime that damages our health, the environment and businesses in what is already an extremely challenging time. I hope our new initiative to help tackle fly-tipping will provide some relief.’

Mr Pearce warned individuals against the risk of employing unregistered waste removal services, which he says have become more prolific since the lockdown began.

He said: ‘These services are illegal, can be part of organised crime groups and are often the perpetrators of fly-tipping.’

Sarah Lee, head of policy at Countryside Alliance, said: ‘The images of fly-tipping, though horrendous, are an all too familiar sight and an issue the Countryside Alliance has long campaigned on which is why we welcome this initiative by Biffa to tackle the increase in fly-tipping.’

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