Almost 140 enforcement notices have been handed to Glasgow firms without commercial waste contracts as part of efforts to crack down on fly-tipping.
Over 600 businesses were visited by environmental health officers during seven ‘weeks of action’ held since April last year.
Officers checked whether shops and other premises had contracts in place to safely dispose of rubbish as required by law.
READ MORE: Glasgow arts venue SWG3 to create rooftop studios after dropping restaurant plan
They issued 135 enforcement notices to firms which failed to show evidence of a contract and gave out three fines for fly-tipping.
On top of spot-checks on businesses, officers also carried out 342 fly-tipping investigations and engaged with 283 households — handing out another 26 fines for fly-tipping.
Ongoing ‘weeks of action’ aim to tackle environmental issues across the city, focusing on fly-tipping as well as graffiti, dog fouling, overgrown foliage and litter.
Cllr Ruairi Kelly, the council’s convener for neighbourhood services and assets, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and the council is tackling it on several fronts.”
He said the spot-checks were “one strand of work which is ensuring businesses are fulfilling their responsibilities on commercial waste disposal”.
“Council officers are also working with residents and communities to tackle environmental issues — for example, through the rolling programme of intensive ‘weeks of action’ which are in addition to routine council maintenance,” he added.
“We will continue to take enforcement action wherever possible against those who continue to dump in our city.”
Glasgow City Council’s strategy for tackling fly-tipping is focusing on pre-emptive action and targeting hotspots, with officers patrolling “problematic” areas.
Fly-tipping is searched to try to identify those responsible and staff also knock doors to offer advice to residents on correct methods of waste disposal.
Over 2022/23, environmental health carried out just under 3,900 visits to businesses to check whether they were complying with their waste disposal responsibilities. It was found 10% had inadequate arrangement in place and follow-up action was needed to ensure compliance.
Officers also helped to secure a prosecution in June 2022 when fly-tipper Declan Clarke, 30, was jailed for 11 months after 51 tonnes of tyres were dumped.
He collected tyres from garages for a fee and hired workers to dump them in car parks or on empty land. Most of the tyres were dumped on Dalsetter Crescent, Drumchapel, and went up in a fire on July 24, 2020.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the fire caused so much smoke it disrupted flights at Glasgow Airport.
A report to councillors revealed there is a nationwide shortage of environmental health officers, with attempts to boost recruitment proving unsuccessful. The council is planning to work with schools and universities to promote the career choice.
Councillors were also told the noise service dealt with 3,373 complaints in 2022/23, ranging from car alarms to industrial noise and burglar alarms to ice-cream chimes. Entertainment noise was the biggest source of complaints with 1,281 calls.
Public health received 4,708 complaints in the same period, relating to issues such as environmental pollution, cooking odours, dampness, smoke, vehicle idling and dog fouling.
READ NEXT:
Glasgow city centre offices set to be knocked down to make way for serviced flats
Lanarkshire pensioner killed on bowling club day out after row with best pal of 40 years
Glasgow hillwalker, 38, missing for more than a month with family 'very worried'
Glasgow road rage driver hurls horrific racial abuse at woman over 'dirty' music playing in her car
Glasgow M8 westbound closed as overturned lorry blocks lanes after collision
