Council bosses have pledged to crack down on fly tipping by improving the ways in which the public can report it to them and building up a map of hot spots.
A new online form will be used by Waste Management officers to capture fly tipping cases that are reported informally by the public, community groups and other public bodies – and get them dealt with within 10 days.
The aim of the improvements is to provide quicker feedback to customers on actions taken and increase prevention and enforcement activities.
Chair of the Redesign Board and Convenor of The Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban said: “Our Lean reviews all show that improvements can be made by doing things differently. Often they can save on costs too.
“This review makes it easier to report fly-tipping, know what we are doing about it and how we can prevent it by being more aware of hot spots and enforcement opportunities for us.
“Illegal dumping happens in both rural and urban areas and clearing it up costs Scottish local authorities more than £2.5 million each year. Not only is fly tipping an offence but there is no excuse for it anywhere in our region as the council provides 21 recycling centres across the Highlands and offers a bulky uplift service.
“At the end of the day, it is Highland Council Tax payers who are bearing the cost of the Council having to clean up and send our staff to investigate and that is money spent that could be used elsewhere by the Council.”
Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee added: “As well as been a crime, fly tipping can have serious environmental consequences and certainly spoils the look of an area.
“The improvements in capturing and mapping data as a result of this review will also help us target resources where they are needed most.”
