Allerdale Borough Council in partnership with the Environment Agency, organised a pop-up ‘Grime Scene’ event in Workington to provide education surrounding the issue of fly-tipping in Allerdale.

The event was held yesterday August,17 at Risman Place, Washington Square Shopping Centre, Workington (the former Pandora store).

The event featured a pop-up ‘Grime Scene’ – a collection of fly-tipped items recently collected from across Allerdale – to emphasise the level of the issue and provide education around where these items can be disposed of correctly.

Allerdale Borough Council’s Enforcement Team will be on hand throughout the day to discuss fly-tipping issues with members of the public, and to signpost them towards the MyAllerdale app. The MyAllerdale app is one of the easiest ways to report fly-tipping across Allerdale and enables Allerdale residents to attach images and specify the location where the fly-tipping has been found.

Leader of Allerdale Borough Council, Councillor Mike Johnson, Deputy Leader, Councillor Marion Fitzgerald, and Allerdale Borough Council’s portfolio holder for waste services, Councillor Jim Lister attended the event to discuss the issues surrounding fly-tipping with residents.

Councillor Jim Lister said: “Fly-tipping has been a consistent issue across Allerdale in recent years. Though we are doing all we can to create a cleaner, greener Allerdale, it’s important to engage with residents to ensure that they’re provided with the information they require to correctly dispose of their waste, and to report issues such as fly-tipping and dog fouling to us.

“Items such as the ones displayed in our ‘Grime Scene’ are fly-tipped across our stunning borough every day and clearing up fly-tipping across Allerdale costs thousands of pounds every year. Events like this really emphasise the issue to members of the public”.

Sharon Kennedy Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said: “Anyone who disposes of waste has a responsibility for where that waste ends up. We want people across Cumbria to take four simple steps to check that those taking your rubbish are registered as official waste carriers. First, check their credentials on Gov.UK then ask where will your rubbish be going. Then make sure you record details of their vehicle, and remember never pay cash - insist on a receipt.

“Unlicenced waste carriers undermine legitimate businesses, undercut their prices and blight the environment which is why the Environment Agency is working to raise awareness with communities across Cumbria on how they can help stamp out illegal activities. “If you suspect someone isn’t operating as they should, call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or report it to our Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”