INTRODUCING a free-to-collect bulky waste collection service to tackle continuously rising cases of fly-tipping is being looked at in a last-ditch attempt to tidy up the borough’s image.
The Liberal Democrat group submitted a motion to Barnsley Council for councillors to give consideration to the move, which was discussed yesterday.
It comes after figures showed reported fly-tipping incidents climbing from 4,404 in 2022/23 to 4,980 in 2023/24.
Council data suggests the problem worsened further in 2024/25, with 5,932 incidents recorded, while the cost of clearing dumped waste last year was almost hit £500,000.
Coun Chris Wray, who moved the motion, said the council should make it easier for residents to dispose of large household items responsibly, rather than risk them turning to rogue operators or dumping rubbish in the street.
He cited often-dumped items such as settees, chairs, doors, kitchen appliances and other waste deemed as bulky.
The proposal calls for households to be allowed a free collection of up to two bulky items and, although it would carry a cost, they believe it would be offset by the savings made from reducing fly-tipping clear-ups.
Coun Wray told the Chronicle: “Fly-tipping is most definitely a blight on our environment and it’s a problem in most parts of the borough.
“Clearly, something isn’t working and more needs to be done to give residents with hard-to-move items an opportunity to dispose of it lawfully, without being tempted to pass it on to an unregistered waste carrier or indeed dumping it themselves.
“The figures aren’t reducing, they’re climbing, as is the council’s cost of picking up what’s dumped on our streets.
“Spending hundreds of thousands of pounds every year on clearing fly-tipping is a shocking waste and something which this motion could address.”
Fly-tipping in Barnsley was most common on footpaths or bridgeways 34 per cent - while household waste accounted for 76 per cent of the illegally dumped rubbish reports.
The DEFRA figures also reveal a slight drop in the number of enforcement actions, with fixed-penalty notices dropping five per cent.
This includes 28 notices issued in Barnsley, however the council now has the power to increase its fines, with the first £1,000 bill being dished out to a Dodworth fly-tipper last summer.
Coun Steve Bullcock, who represents the Kingstone ward, has long been campaigning for tougher stances and seconded the motion.
He says that around a third of all fly-tipping incidents across the borough take place in his ward.
He added: “The council team responsible for clearing fly-tipped waste do an excellent job responding quickly to cleaning up clearing fly-tipping up.
“In all honesty they are second to none cleaning up after those that do not care.
“However cleaning up after others costs money - money that could be spent on looking after vulnerable people and other important matters that affect our town.
“We now have to up our game by catching more of those responsible for trashing our town fortunately it’s only small minority of individuals but it still costs a huge amount every year and it shows no sign of reducing.
“Coupled with other ideas - whether it’s the bulky waste collection plan or CCTV in hotspot areas - we can end this currently never-ending problem in our town.”
The motion also asked for a cost-benefit analysis to be carried out, for external funding options to be explored and for communication campaigns to be considered to promote the service.
Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said: "In the spirit of collegiate working, we are committed to constructive cross-party collaboration on issues that matter to residents.
