Great Yarmouth Borough Council's new initiative to improve town estate by targeting fly-tipping

The council's Environmental Rangers team is urging people to report problems quickly, providing advice for residents, putting up new signage and working with the community to improve areas where illegally dumped waste is an issue.

Rangers have delivered letters and leaflets to explain how bins should be correctly used, not left out in alleyways or overflowing, and how people can recycle effectively.

The team is also making it clear that leaving waste for collection near or next to bins is, in fact, fly-tipping and leads to problems with spilled rubbish and bags ripped open by gulls, which in turn attracts vermin. The rangers are also listening to complaints about specific litter hotspots.

Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste said: ''We are absolutely determined to clean up the streets of Great Yarmouth's so our residents can enjoy the clean and tidy community they deserve.

''Our rangers are working hard to educate people and they are reporting that improvements are already starting to be seen.

''Simple steps like using the bins properly, not leaving bags next to bins and marking large items as fly-tipped and not expecting crews to pick up waste that is dumped illegally as part of their rounds can make a huge difference.

''If people understand how to correctly dispose of rubbish we know we can reduce fly- tipping and improve recycling rates.''

The council has also changed its bulky waste collection charges, charging per item so people only pay for what they use. And, in the target areas, rangers are clearly labelling large items as illegally dumped to educate people that fly-tipping is not a free waste collection service.

As part of the work in the Barracks, teams are also carrying out a clean-up of the service roads - clearing weeds and tidying the area.

Councillor Wells said: ''Where education and information isn't successful the council has a track record of prosecuting those who dump waste. We would urge people to report problems to us and provide us with any information they can to help us take the action we know the community wants.''

''Our teams work incredibly hard to try to keep the borough tidy, but we can only be successful with the support of the community and people behaving responsibly.''

The work follows a similar successful clean-up and waste education initiative in Cobholm at the end of last year which was welcomed by residents and saw a reduction in fly-tipping and improvements to the alleyways and passageways.

Fly-tipping in Great Yarmouth borough can be reported via the Love Clean Streets app or website, via email at environmentalrangers@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or by calling 01493 846478.

Read more about waste and recycling services here: https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling