Results from the survey of 620 NFU members were highlighted during an edition of Channel 4 Dispatches: ‘Rubbish Tip Britain’.
More than half of respondents (54%) to the survey said they had experienced small-scale fly-tipping on farm, while over a quarter (30%) said they’d been hit by large-scale fly-tipping.
The survey comes after more than 19,000 people signed the NFU's letter to newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners last month urging them to make tackling rural crime a priority.
A ‘constant blot’ on the landscape
NFU Vice President Rachell Hallos said the results came as “no surprise” with more of our farms and countryside spaces “being used as dumping grounds”.
Rachel quoted members who had “battered old kitchen appliances, sofas and mattresses abandoned on their land, as well as industrial-scale amounts of hazardous and toxic materials such as asbestos”.
“One also had 10 fridge freezers left in a gateway,” she added.
“It’s shocking and no exaggeration to say that fly-tipping is a constant blot on the landscape.”
“With concerted help and support from the next government and police forces, we can start to crack down on this continual blight on the nation.”
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
Channel 4 reveals cost to farmers
The NFU has been working closely with production company Quicksilver Media on a special programme for Channel 4 Dispatches to demonstrate how fly-tipping and waste crime has become more organised and sophisticated across the whole of the UK.
The programme shows how farmers and their families are being left to clean up the mess at great cost – both emotionally and financially.
Rachel said viewers will see “how soul-destroying it can be to have your home and workplace used as a dumping ground and the huge damage it causes”.
The NFU’s election manifesto calls on the next government to treat fly-tipping as a priority. We are calling for a consistent and coordinated response across government, including fair funding for rural policing, a dedicated rural crime team in every police force in the country and the formation of a cross-departmental rural crime task force to address the failures in dealing with rural crime.
Rachel added: “For some time now, we have been making the case to politicians that action is desperately needed.
“With concerted help and support from the next government and police forces, we can start to crack down on this continual blight on the nation.”
Reporting incidents
When asked about reporting, just over half of those affected (52%) said they had reported an incident to the council, only 19% said they had contacted police and even fewer (4.4%) said they had reported it to the Environment Agency.
While 45% said the council does routinely (i.e. always) assist with the clean up of fly-tipping, 54% of those affected estimated it still cost them up to £500 in clean-up costs last year.
Have you experienced fly-tipping on your farm? We’re encouraging farmers and landowners who've been affected to share details of incidents with us using our online form.
Your information will help strengthen our case for tougher action.
If you know or suspect illegal waste activity is taking place, report it anonymously to Crimestoppers: Give information | Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111. The 24-hour incident hotline is also available on 0800 80 70 60.
