Illegal Landfill (Dumping and Flytipping)

There are two areas of deep concern to the Partnership.

Firstly illegal landfill in the Belfast Hills, and secondly flytipping.

In the past, there has been a lot of concern about the perceived lack of teeth in terms of monitoring and enforcement at illegal dumping sites within the Belfast Hills.

Recently there seems to be a slight improvement on the issue of illegal landfill with fines imposed for those who flout the regulations. Nevertheless, the wheels of justice seem to grind very slowly for those directly affected by illegal landfill sites.

Questions are often asked as to why, if a certain site is illegal, the authorities don’t shut it down rather than the environment and those affected by illegal landfill having to wait months and years before a final court prosecution and action.

The Partnership and legal waste management operators have been continually voicing concerns over the need for urgent action to prevent the environment and residents living near to such sites being blighted.

Flytipping is also a historical issue in our local hills whereby people take refuse and simply dump it regardless of the farmer, road user, walker or wildlife it will affect. Flytippers are not regarded as the most clever of characters as most of the types of waste they dump can be disposed of for free in council amenity and recycling centres.

We all have a part to play in putting a stop to this irresponsible and dangerous behaviour and this is where reporting is vital to stop these highly damaging practises in the Hills.