New campaign launched to stop Hampshire's countryside being '˜trashed' by dumped waste

As part of a new campaign, their message is: Fly-tipping will not be tolerated here.

Using the hashtag #ResponsibleRubbish, along with an array social media adverts, the partnership wants to make the public aware of how they can stop the growing trend.

The council says the main aim of the campaign is to make residents aware that if they use an unregistered waste carrier, and their rubbish ends up dumped, they themselves – as well as the tippers – could face prosecution. Those found guilty face the prospect of an unlimited fine.

Representatives from the campaign partner organisations gathered at one of the county’s beauty spots – Farley Mount, Winchester, which has been spoiled by fly-tipped waste on several occasions in the past.

‘This campaign is about educating members of the public and to make sure that when they dispose of their waste, they do so responsibly,’ said the county council’s fly-tipping chief Gareth Edwards.

He added: ‘We are all tax payers and if we are spending money clearing up waste that has been fly-tipped you have to think, what else could that money have been spent on? What services?

‘It is disgusting that people still do this when there are waste centres, open seven days a week, across the county.”

As part of the campaign, Hampshire County Council has joined forces with partners including the police, districts and borough councils, Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, the Environment Agency and rural associations.

County council cabinet member for the environment Rob Humby said: ‘The real message is that we all have a duty of care to protect our countryside.’

‘The campaign is all about working together, sharing data and information so we can tackle this problem in the most effective way.’