Public Works Ministry Advisory: Illegal Dumping

January 28, 2013

The Ministry of Public Works said they would like to advise the public that the Waste and Litter Control Act Amendment of 2012 increased the penalty for illegal dumping of waste up to $10,000 for a first offence and up to $25,000 for subsequent offences.

“Additionally, the amended Act makes it easier to convict dumpers due to changes in the way evidence is examined,” said a statement from the Ministry. “This means, those found guilty of an offence under the Act can now be convicted if items addressed to them or otherwise linked to them are found dumped.

“The Ministry of Public Works considers illegal dumping or fly-tipping of waste to be a major problem in Bermuda. Removing waste once it is dumped is far more costly than correct disposal, very labour intensive and potentially dangerous to human health. Disposing of waste correctly costs little and is easy to do.”

The Ministry spokesperson said, “Illegal dumping attracts and provides breeding grounds for rats, feral chickens and mosquitoes. Rats and mosquitoes are disease vectors i.e. they carry diseases that are harmful to humans and transmittable as well. Feral chickens destroy landscapes and farmers’ crops, and spread litter and waste through neighbourhoods and along highways”.

The Ministry said they “would like to remind the general public that illegal dumping includes but not limited to materials like household appliances, mattresses, bags of household waste and hazardous waste, which is dumped along the railway trail, in vacant lots and at the end of quiet lanes.”

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Comments (6)

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  1. Triangle Drifter says:

    Catch a few. Fine them heavily. Let the public know the who & where. Watch it stop very quickly.

    The legislation is there. Enforce it.

    • Rocky says:

      100% agree, lots of legislation we have is not being enforced.

  2. Get Real says:

    Good! Too many people with a “no-care” attitude are destroying the beauty of our island! Make them pay and publish their names!!!

  3. SoMuchMore says:

    there should be a fine in place for those who throw stuff out of their cars too… i think that is so inappropriate.

  4. Pastor Syl Hayward says:

    @ SoMuchMore: There is a law and a minuscule fine for littering, but I have yet to hear of anyone being charged for it. I’d like to know who to report it to when I see people throwing stuff out of their cars. I have taken numbers but with all the heavy crime, the police aren’t very interested.

  5. Triangle Drifter says:

    Some states have 4 figure littering fines, & they USE them. They also sentence litterers to community service, dress them up in prison clothing & send them out under supervision picking up roadside trash.