Council launches ‘No Rubbish Excuses’ campaign

 

Cheshire East Council has launched a hard-hitting campaign to help reduce the amount of waste illegally dumped on the borough’s streets and encourage more residents to take pride in their towns and villages.

‘There are NO RUBBISH excuses’ was officially launched in Crewe this week as part of the council’s efforts to tackle fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling.

The campaign sends a firm message to those who commit environmental crimes that the council is stepping up its fight against them.

It also encourages more people to come forward with information about fly-tippers and to report incidents through the council’s official channels, as well as offering support and education to residents on how to dispose of waste responsibly.

Councillor Paul Bates, cabinet member for communities and health at Cheshire East Council, said: “Fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling are disgusting and crimes – and will not be tolerated in Crewe or anywhere else in Cheshire East.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to dispose of waste correctly and we are grateful to the vast majority of our residents, and to the various community groups, who do play their part in helping to keep the borough clean and tidy.

“We want to engage with residents to identify their issues around waste disposal and educate and support them in implementing responsible solutions.

“However, we are an enforcing council and clear in our position that we will take action against those who continue to drop litter, dump rubbish and fail to pick up after their dogs. There are no excuses for their behaviour.”

‘There are NO RUBBISH excuses’ is a Cheshire East-wide campaign but much of the activity is being focused on Crewe as part of the Crewe Neighbourhood Action Plan, a pilot project to tackle issues that are important to the local community.

In Crewe itself, the campaign is primarily targeted at six fly-tipping ‘hot spot’ zones and its launch coincides with three public meetings, which have been organised to discuss the key outcomes of a digital survey around waste disposal. The survey was carried out with about 1,000 residents, who live in the fly-tipping hot spot zones.

The public meetings, to which all Crewe residents are invited, will take place at the following times and locations:

· Thursday, April 20 – West Street Baptist Church,  6pm-8pm;

· Tuesday, April 25 – Alexandra Suite, Crewe Alex Football Club, 6pm-8pm; and

· Wednesday, April 26 – Hope Church, Derrington Avenue, 6pm-8pm.

Cllr Bates said: “Over the last 12 months, it’s estimated to have cost the council £204,000 to clear up fly-tipped waste and carry out enforcement action across the borough – money which I’m sure residents would prefer was being spent elsewhere.

“We hope our residents, landlords, business and community groups will all get behind our campaign and do their bit to keep Crewe and the rest of the borough clean.

“It’s also important that residents report fly-tipping and other environmental crimes directly to us, using the official channels, online via: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/norubbishexcuses or by calling 0300 123 5011.”