South Coast farmers experiencing fly-tipping daily and facing huge costs
It comes ahead of a government plan to crackdown on fly-tipping
Farmers across the South Coast say they're experiencing fly-tipping daily and facing 10s of thousands of pounds in clear-up costs.
It comes ahead of a government crack-down which is expected later in the week to lay out new licensing rules.
Tom Peters is the National Farmer's Union's County Advisor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
He said: "Fly-tipping has been a continual problem for a lot of our members across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, especially in those areas in close proximity to big towns like Basingstoke, Portsmouth and Southampton.
"This is where unfortunately the, let's say, Rogue Cowboy people that are taking away waste are utilizing the adjacent countryside to dispose of their waste illegally; which is causing big, big problems.
"We have some members that are literally dealing with dumps daily.
"Not only is it hugely frustrating, unfortunately, all the burden then lies on the landowner to do the clear up, which in some cases, it's not just bags of rubbish.
"It can be, you know, really toxic waste such as asbestos and materials like that.
"So that then really, really does escalate the cost of clear up, which unfortunately has to be burdened by the landowner."
The Environment Department (Defra) said laws will be laid this week to require those who handle and transport waste to prove they are qualified to do so.
Operators found to be mishandling waste will also face up to five years in prison under the new rules, ministers announced.
In the current system, waste carriers only need to register their information with the Environment Agency (EA) through a basic paper-based process, undergoing limited identity and background checks.
Ministers say this means both organised criminals and “rogue operators” who dump waste ineffectively and leave large clean-up bills can enter the system.
The new system, which ministers say will come into force in 2027, will require applicants to undergo more rigorous identity and criminal record checks as well as a competency assessment online before they receive a permit.