FLY-TIPPING is being addressed by a district council as the problem gets worse across the region.

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) has therefore launched a campaign to raise awareness.

Created by the Hertfordshire Fly Tipping Group, the SCRAP campaign has run successfully in other areas of the country.

The council says that its staff are regularly called to investigate and clear rubbish that has been dumped illegally, with the aim to raise awareness of fly-tipping and inform residents and businesses about the law and their obligations.

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This includes: explaining to residents what fly-tipping is; educating residents on how to dispose of their waste correctly; informing residents on how to report a fly tip, and highlighting the penalties if caught fly-tipping.

Councillor Norman MacRae, cabinet member for the environment at WODC, said: “We all have a responsibility for our local environment and protecting it from the harm caused by fly-tipping.

“This campaign enforces the message that no corners should be cut when it comes to disposing of waste responsibly and that anyone caught doing so can expect high penalties if successfully prosecuted.”

An online campaign highlighting information such as how to check for a waste carrier’s licence will be run.