During October 2008, the Capital Standards Network held 2 good practice cluster group sessions to share good practice on dealing with fly-tipping. Attendees included London Local Authorities, Environment Agency, London Councils, ENCAMS (Keep Britain Tidy) and London Fire Brigade.
Various legislation exists to make our environment cleaner, safer and greener. The Capital Standards programme has a successful enforcement academy training officers from the partner Local Authorities in the processes required for enforcement and best practice techniques. Over 300 officers have been through the course during 2004/05 with further courses planned.
ENCAMS estimate that graffiti costs the UK over £1 billion per year to clean up. It can lead to the decline of an area and a lack of respect for the place in which people live, work and play.
Living in London graffiti is apparent in some form in the majority of areas, through specific projects Capital Standards aims to tackle this issue throughout London.
Flyposting costs London thousands of pounds a year to clean up. It not only looks unsightly but it can lead to the serious decline of an area. Flyposting can be in many forms, from businesses to personal advertisements.
Fly-tipping can vary in size from large scale incidences involving hazardous waste and incidents involving organised gangs of fly-tippers which is investigated by the Environment Agency to small scale incidences which are investigated by local authorities. According to the Environment Agency it costs between £100-150 million every year to investigate and clear up fly-tips.
Litter is a problem in most areas of London, Capital Standards sets to assist the Local Authorities in improving this situation through the work of the survey and best practice techniques shared among its partners.
Nuisance vehicles can be a blight on neighbourhoods, contributing to a fear of crime and a general sense of decline. Their presence may also attract other acts of anti-social behaviour such as arson, vandalism, and fly-tipping.