Only 35 convictions have been made for illegal fly-tipping offences across the north and north-east in the last 15 years, according to the latest figures.
Building and construction materials are among the most common types of hazardous waste dealt with by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
Between April 2002 and December 2016, there were 10 convictions made in the Aberdeen City Council area and 11 convictions in Aberdeenshire.
In the Highlands there were six convictions and seven in the Western Isles – a tenth of the population – over the same time frame.
There was one conviction each in Shetland and Moray and none in Orkney, according to the data, released under freedom of information by the Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Services division.
A total of 207 convictions, involving a mix of companies and individuals, were made in the whole of Scotland over the 15 year period.
Other examples include Glasgow and Edinburgh with 23 convictions each, North Lanarkshire with 21, 14 in Fife, 10 each in East Ayrshire and West Lothian and just four each in Dundee and Perth. There were three convictions each in the Borders and Angus areas.
These more serious fly-tipping cases are put together by Sepa and sent to the Crown Office, which decides whether or not there is enough evidence to prosecute. Fixed monetary penalties of £300 can also now be issued before prosecution.
Local authorities handle the smaller incidents of fly-tipping such as small amounts of household waste.
Sepa was unable to comment on the number of convictions but its chief executive officer, Terry A’Hearn, said: “Every day Sepa works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. Compliance is not optional and tackling illegal waste management activities is one of our major priorities.
“Illegal dumping happens in both rural and urban areas and clearing it up costs Scottish local authorities more than £2.5 million each year. It also undermines legitimate waste businesses, where illegal operators undercut those operating within the law.”
The emergence of the statistics follows efforts from Sepa’s Waste Crime Team to combat fly-tipping at Mount Alexander, Camaghael, Fort William.
Building and construction materials are among the various types of waste accumulating at the site.
Sepa said the illegal dumping was being carried out by local tradesman to avoid paying disposal costs at legitimate waste management sites, disregarding the law and environmental consequences.
Anyone who suspects fly-tipping offences should call the Dumb Dumpers Stopline on 08452 30 40 90 or by completing a form on the dumbdumpers.org website.
