New contract to battle fly-tipping in Harlow
News / Thu 23rd Feb 2023 at 11:25am
A NEW contract with NES (National Enforcement Solutions) Ltd to enforce fly-tipping and littering offences in Harlow is now in operation.
NES had originally been appointed by Harlow Council in 2020 to issue fines for fly-tipping offences and littering, on a trial basis.
Following the expiry of the trial, the council ran an open tender process with updated requirements to reflect the authority’s aspiration to prevent fly-tipping and littering through a greater focus on education. Four companies submitted bids, with NES’s bid found to be the highest quality.
The new three-year contract required bidders to dedicate at least a quarter of their time and resources to investigating and enforcing fly-tipping offences, and to have an educational offering too.
As part of their bid, NES committed to exceed the 25% fly-tipping target and to deploy Automatic Number-Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to identified hotspots as part of an intelligence-led approach.
They also offered over 200 hours of time towards a public education programme, alongside a new environmental crime awareness course aimed at repeat offenders.
NES also committed to two new apprenticeship positions to boost local employment opportunities.
Councillor Nicky Purse, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said:
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with NES as we refocus our efforts on reducing fly-tipping and littering across our town.
“We know that fines are an important part of the effort to reduce littering but that they won’t work on their own. That’s why the new contract with NES includes dedicated time to educating people about the damaging environmental consequences of littering. This will involve getting out into local schools, and a new environmental crime awareness course for persistence offenders.
“The new contract also guarantees a greater focus on tackling fly-tipping. We need to do better at taking on those dumping large amounts of rubbish in Harlow’s estates and on our grass verges.
“This continues the work we’ve done with NES already to move their focus away from punishing Harlow residents for minor offences near their homes, and towards the real fly-tippers who simply don’t care about the impact they are having on Harlow or have any pride in our town.”
At the meeting of Cabinet in December 2022 it was agreed to enter into a contract with NES, which started in January 2023.
Fly-tipping and litter can be reported to the council at https://www.harlow.gov.uk/safety-and-crime/report-street-problem
Bruce Downey
2023-02-23 11:29:06
Good. Keep Harlow Tidy 🚮
JohnM
2023-02-23 12:48:25
They are definitely going to be kept busy when the booking system at the dump comes in!!
Mr Ellis
2023-02-23 13:23:11
This is absolutely horrible, yesterday I saw a bumble bee on its side I was disgusted something needs to be done
David Forman
2023-02-23 14:11:44
Making the disposal of waste cheap and easy will mean less fly tipping. Unfortunately, the government and local councils see waste as a cash cow to milk. Then when someone tries to help elderly residents by taking waste to the recycling centre, the jobsworths tell you that you are using the centre too much. Doing a good deed is made harder by these petty bureaucrats.
Mike
2023-02-23 16:37:54
I wonder if they are doing this because they know that the new booking system that starts at the Recycling Centre in March is going to lead to more fly-tipping? Why make it more difficult for residents to dispose of their waste??
Tomcat
2023-02-23 17:25:31
Ha Ha its a cash cow as I witnessed 2 of these so called butt police threatening a young man in Staple Tye shopping area yesterday as he apparently dropped a Cigarette but! Demanding £80 by menacing and it takes 2 people to do it! Sorry but its all about money for nothing and not for the love of Harlow
Bobby Bobbler
2023-02-23 19:08:11
Tomcat, this is what I thought. There is no way they're going to catch anyone in the act of industrial fly-tipping, it'll be cigarette drops, apple cores placed in a bush or accidentally spilling water that they'll be enforcing.
neilwarnerbaker
2023-02-23 19:12:35
Well said Tomcat, I heard something similar on River way, a young woman dropped a butt and two guys from this firm burst out of a car and accosted her and insisted she pay a Fine of £80 Quid. She was terrified.
neilwarnerbaker
2023-02-23 19:17:26
Perhaps we should all start prowling the cllrs that have made this decision..Let's see if they do no wrong!
Jane
2023-02-24 00:52:12
I can’t do an appointment with the waste facility. So what about is that can’t?
Nostradamus
2023-02-24 09:57:17
Total corruption or just plain numpty thinking. Make it difficult to even enter the dump, give minimal help to unload, put in a costly booking system, pay for cameras, pay for number plate recognition, pay for all the bureaucracy, pay for the administration of licencing all at public expense and then allow private businesses/security firms to make pots of money and money to an arm of government, the Council, NONE of which actually sorts or deals with any waste but just a smoke and mirrors way of raising another tax. Whereas just the act of picking up waste (for which we all already pay tax), making the dump into a true free recycling and repair centre for residents and businesses would ensure 99% of all waste would be taken to the centre. The result would be virtually no fly tipping and all waste would be appropriately dealt with, broken down or repaired. Bring back the free heavy squad many residents can't afford £50 or £100 to pay recycling business. This is just another tax hike and reduction of services for which the Council is putting up Council tax. Also as Canterbury has found, employing such security companies leads to fraud: bogus officers impersonating company staff are everywhere intimidating people into paying fines for the most minor offences or even when no offence has been committed. Consequently the public purse pays more for all the police work and it again doesn't solve the problem of waste. Typically Tory party strategy, cut public services and hand the profits to businesses.
bob
2023-02-24 11:20:11
Awarded contract for what they should have been doing but chasing people over putting out cigarettes. No worry about dog poo or dumped rubbish.
Chris
2023-02-24 13:19:32
"National Enforcement Solutions" that doesn't sound like a local business .. moreover a national coverage company, wonder who they knew in government to get local councils on board, ex G4S or sirco employee perhaps?
Strawbs
2023-02-24 23:38:09
Fed up with people countrywide who dump rubbish and expect everyone else to clear it up. Folk do not appear to have any pride or shame as to inflict their rubbish on society at large. Some of the front gardens I walk past look hideous with detritus of all kinds spilling out and making the street look like a dump. Educate and fine these lazy tenants who consider their filth to be someone else’s problem.
Jerry
2023-02-25 07:27:33
Never mind apple cores and fag butts what about cracking down on moron dog owners who don't clear up dogs mess !
Bruce Downey
2023-02-25 08:28:27
If you see something, say something. Call them out!
Mr. P. Opcorn-Timeagain
2023-02-25 13:22:41
Please place items discovered about Harlow at the entrance of The Civic Centre. The wonderful staff are only too pleased to assist. (Backsides and elbows continue to confuse them so please be helpful.) All other forms of notification including pictures, location of and dates will be ignored. Good luck.
TURKEY
2023-02-26 07:42:09
Council litter picker only seem to do the same roads each day. How about doing Paringdon Road which is covered in litter , it is an embarrassment. I am daily picking up rubbish.
18 Comments for New contract to battle fly-tipping in Harlow: