An operation has been set up to tackle fly-tipping in Allerdale.
Several organisations in the borough are joining forces for Operation Respect.
Fly-tipping is as an escalating issue in the area, with 1,572 reports made to Allerdale Borough Council in 2020, compared to 1,304 the previous year.
It is being led by the Allerdale Local Focus Hub, a partnership between organisations including the police, councils, housing associations and charities.
All the agencies involved in the operation have published an open letter to the community today highlighting the reasons why they are coming together to support the initiative.
It is anticipated the operation will run for several months with a series of different activities planned, including community tidy-up days led by housing associations, a back lane blitz targeting some of the worst-affected back lanes in the borough for cleaning, as well as education and enforcement work, joint patrols between partners in hot-spot areas and police-led enforcement activities.
Jim Lister, Allerdale Borough Council’s executive member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “Fly-tipping is a big issue in the area and it’s one of the main things our residents and businesses contact us about.
“As part of our 10-year council strategy we pledged to create a cleaner, greener Allerdale so we are delighted to support the initiative and offer our help in tackling this problem.
“Fly-tipping is illegal, unsightly and dangerous and I’d urge everyone to play their part in stopping this activity.”
Sergeant Scott Adams, of Cumbria police, said: “Fly-tipping has been a large problem within Allerdale.
“We will look to target those without waste licenses and the areas we have seen being used to fly-tip.
“We would encourage people to report fly-tips and if you witness someone dumping items to help us stop the issue.”
The first official event as part of the operation took take place on Friday in Moorclose, Workington, organised by Castles & Coasts Housing Association.
Residents could get rid of bulky items and waste they have otherwise been unable to remove, recycle items, take part in clean-up activities and receive information on fly-tipping and waste disposal.
