Bolton’s fly-tipping ‘epidemic’ with more than 200 cases per month

Bolton is battling a fly-tipping ‘epidemic’ with more than 200 cases a month reported since a ‘zero tolerance’ crackdown on those dumping waste was announced last year.

However, less than five per cent of those cases have resulted in a fine or court summons. Councillors heard that sine February, 2021, 3,722 cases of fly-tipping have been recorded by Bolton Council.

However, fixed penalty fines have been issued to culprits just 144 times in that period, with another 22 alleged fly-tippers being summoned to attend magistrates court after prosecution.

The figures were revealed at a meeting of the full council during which calls were made for an urgent review of enforcement and education practices around fly-tipping.