Almost 90 fines handed to Ipswich businesses over waste dumped in the town centre
The council says it's taking a zero-tolerance approach to bagged commercial rubbish left on the streets
Nearly 90 fines have been issued to businesses in Ipswich caught leaving commercial waste out on the streets of the town centre.
Ipswich Borough Council says it has handed out 67 Fixed Penalty Notices to businesses found in breach of waste regulations, with a further 22 cases being processed, bringing the total to 89.
The council says the enforcement follows targeted patrols and investigations into businesses leaving bagged commercial waste outside their premises for long periods.
According to the council, this waste can be torn open and scattered across surrounding streets and public spaces, creating litter and making the town centre less attractive.
How the crackdown has worked
The council says its enforcement activity has been supported by evidence gathered through in-person patrols and CCTV monitoring.
Redeployed resources were used over the summer to remind businesses of the rules and to adopt what the council describes as a zero-tolerance policy towards those who do not change their practices.
The council says the work is already making a difference, with significantly less bagged business waste being left outside town centre premises for long periods.
What the council has said
Councillor George Lankester, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: "Businesses have a responsibility to manage their waste properly and to play their part in keeping Ipswich clean. The vast majority do exactly that, but we will not stand by while a minority leave waste on our roads outside agreed collection times. Where businesses fail to put things right, we will take action.
"Our targeted enforcement work is delivering results. By focusing our patrols and investigations on the places and times where problems are most likely to occur, we can make the best use of our resources and tackle the problem where it is happening. The result is less waste being left on our streets and a cleaner town centre for everyone who lives, works and visits here.
"This work will continue. We will keep monitoring the situation, working with businesses where we can, and taking enforcement action where necessary. Waste must be managed responsibly and it must not be allowed to become a problem for the wider community."
The enforcement is part of a wider push for cleaner streets, building on the council's announcement on 9th July that it was investing an extra £400,000 to increase street cleaning across the town.
The council is encouraging all businesses to review their waste arrangements and make sure staff understand when and how commercial waste should be presented for collection.