Community skips in Swindon 'could stop people fly-tipping'

Swindon Borough Council is set to discuss a proposal that would introduce “community skips” to tackle persistent fly-tipping in targeted areas. The pilot plan, brought by Labour councillor Princia Fernandes, aims to address a problem that council figures say costs more than £200,000 per year for waste collection and enforcement action. The idea would focus on residents’ household waste only, excluding commercial waste and unsuitable or hazardous materials. The wider package includes surveillance, better signage, lighting, changes to waste collection arrangements, and physical prevention measures. Similar schemes have been piloted elsewhere, including Boston and Ealing. The council also plans to upgrade CCTV and proposes tougher £5,000 fines under a “zero-tolerance” approach, with debate scheduled for Thursday.