Fly-tipping levels in Sedgemoor are continuing to rise as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, waste bosses have admitted.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has recorded a sharp rise in fly-tipping across the county in late-2020 compared to the same period 12 months ago.

The figures released show fly-tipping rates in Mendip more than doubling, with large amounts of black bin waste being dumped across the county.

The SWP said it had "little control or influence" over fly-tipping levels, but was working with its partners to try and reduce the number of incidents.

Details of fly-tipping incidents were published before a meeting of the SWP joint scrutiny panel this afternoon (February 10).

In the last three months of 2020, the total number of fly-tipping incidents recorded across Somerset was 1,191.

This is compared to 824 incidents being recorded over the same period in 2019 – a rise of 367 incidents, or nearly 45 per cent.

Out of the four districts, Mendip saw the sharpest rise in incidents, from 213 incidents in late-2019 to 579 incidents in late-2020 – a rise of more than 170 per cent.

The next highest increase came in Somerset West and Taunton (a rise of 104 incidents), followed by South Somerset (39 further incidents) and finally Sedgemoor (11 incidents).

The most common component of new fly-tips was "black bin" waste, with 571 incidents, followed by "other household waste" (353 new incidents) and "construction waste" (113).

A spokesman for the SWP said: "Fly-tipping continues to be a blight on the Somerset landscape and it is vitally important that we monitor whether any of the service changes we make impacts the level of this criminal activity.

"There is no evidence that any of our activities have contributed to any increases in fly-tipping, but is likely to be an ongoing result of the current pandemic."

The rise in fly-tipping recorded late-2020 echoes the trend observed during the first UK lockdown, where fly-tipping incidents increased by 55 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

In both time periods, Mendip saw the biggest rise in incidents (with an increase of 70 per cent) and the largest component of fly-tips was black bin waste.

The SWP said it had "little control or influence" over the level of fly-tipping in the county, with the ability to take enforcement action resting on the willingness and capacity of the four district councils.

However, it added it was looking into adopting good practice from other local authorities to reduce fly-tipping – including a successful campaign in Hertfordshire which had seen reported incidents fall by nearly one fifth.

A spokesman said: "Fly-tipping on public and private land creates environmental damage, so we in conjunction with our partners aim to develop a business case or pilot by exploring best practice in tackling fly-tipping on all land, whether publicly or privately owned.

"This will include working with the police, National Farmers' Union and other interested partners, and may include adoption of the of the model developed by Hertfordshire Fly-tipping Group.

"Their 'Let's S.C.R.A.P Fly tipping' campaign (Suspect, Check, Refuse, Ask, Paperwork) brought together 11 local authorities, the police and other organisations and provided a one-stop portal where residents and businesses could obtain information about disposing of waste correctly, report fly tipping and check waste carrier details.

"The campaign led to a 17.9 per cent reduction in fly-tipping in 2017-18."

Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, who holds a ministerial position within Defra, said Somerset's councils had sufficient existing powers to take action against fly-tipping through enforcement.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (February 9), she said: "Local authorities are responsible for clearing fly-tipping from public land, and navigation authorities work closely with them to remove fly-tipping that occurs on waterside land.

"Councils also have legal powers to take enforcement action. They can prosecute anyone caught fly-tipping or littering or, alternatively, issue a fixed penalty notice.

"It is encouraging to see that there are a growing number of public-spirited individuals and community groups tackling litter all over the country.

"We have been proud to support and endorse national clean-up days such as the Great British Spring Clean, and the Great British Beach Clean, and we will continue to use our influence to encourage as many people and businesses as possible to participate in these types of events, whilst following government guidance on staying safe outside the home."