Landfill tax increase could lead to a ‘fly-tipping epidemic’

The Countryside Alliance has warned that the already high levels of fly-tipping across the UK may reach “epidemic proportions” thanks to an increase in landfill tax announced in Wednesday’s budget by Gordon Brown.
The Chancellor raised landfill tax beyond all previous Government targets.
According to the Alliance the increased burden to business would have been 71% between 2007 and 2011, it is now a massive 166%, making disposal of rubbish increasingly expensive and fly-tipping increasingly appealing.
Simon Hart, Countryside Alliance chief executive, said: “What government needs to do is make fly-tipping less appealing by making the safe and legal disposal of waste easier.
“It is ironic that this ‘green budget’ will most likely result in more illegal waste dumping.
“This budget is a double hit for farmers: they already pay £47million a year to clear up fly-tipping at their own expense – they can look forward to paying more in future, added to a higher price for the SUVs that are necessary tools of their trade.”
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