We love to wander through the unspoiled countryside when business is quiet. This was true for many of us during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find it most disturbing when we confront fly-tipping in England and Wales.
This is something Avery Associates would never contemplate. Although we have learned to be even more careful using subcontractors to handle goods we recycle from homes. There’s no point in dumping when Britain must re-purpose as much as we can.
How Serious Is Fly-Tipping in England and Wales
The phrase ‘fly-tipping’ relates to the idea of doing something ‘on the fly and without preparing’ according to Cambridge Dictionary. Hence fly-tipping is unauthorised disposal without permission, or thinking through the consequences of despoiling the landscape.
A House of Commons Briefing Paper dated 25 August 2021 reveals the following alarming statistics of fly-tipping in England, and we quote word by word:
1… For the 2019/20 year, local authorities in England dealt with just under 1 million (976,000) fly-tipping incidents, an increase of 2% from the 957,000 reported in 2018/19.
2… Just under two thirds (65%) of fly-tips involved household waste. Total incidents involving household waste were 632,000 in 2019/20, an increase of 7% from 588,000 in 2018/19.
Why Fly-Tipping is a Serious Problem for All of Us
Many items in everyday use are made from non-renewable materials that will eventually run out, if we continue to use them as we do. Moreover, creating them from raw materials often releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is causing climate change.
Britain will experience more extreme weather events if this trend continues. Sea levels will rise higher this century and flood many coastal cities if we don’t do something about it. This may not affect us directly, but we can’t leave this to our children to sort out.
Fly-Tipping in England and Wales is therefore more than antisocial behaviour. It flies in the face of responsible recycling of scarce materials too. Avery Associates ensures responsible processing of items we remove from client homes.
Who’s Responsible for Preventing Fly-Tipping in England and Wales?
Law enforcement should be a last resort in a mature society. However, local authorities in Wales and England find themselves on the back foot of dealing with consequences. They have the unfortunate task of clearing up items left on the fly.
Fly-Tipping Encountered on a Walk (Image Martin Addison BY CC 2.0)
Dumping be dangerous where the items are thrown down steep slopes by the sides of roads, or strewn at the edge of public paths. There’s an ever-present risk of cutting hands on sharp objects, and encountering dangerous chemicals too. It’s our duty to report fly-tipping when we see it, and try to identify the criminals as best as we can.
How Avery Associates Fulfill Our Social Responsibility
Avery Associates would never willingly dump anything, anywhere. We did once let our guard down when a supervisor failed to manage a subcontractor properly. Since then we have put fail-safe measures in place. But you don’t have to believe us. Hear what some of our customers say:
We’re extremely pleased with the house clearance service that Jeffrey provided. This was a daunting and emotionally difficult task for us but Jeffrey was sensitive and polite throughout the process and he and his team did a fantastic job clearing the house efficiently and exactly to our requirements. Many thanks for a really great service, would totally recommend. (Tim and Chris)
I sincerely endorse the reviews here. From the very beginning Jeffery Avery and his team on the phones inspired confidence and have come through with flying colours. I’d certainly recommend them for expertise, speed, efficiency, and not least, their kindness, patience and care. (Valerie Broadhurst)
Avery Associates supplied the amazing team of Adam and Paul, who were highly professional and efficient and moved and cleared the house to several destinations. Their empathy and understanding of the stresses and strains of house moving was outstanding; they even brought the garden up to a high standard for handover. The house was left immaculate. (T. Hackett). Read Avery Associates reviews here.
A Perfectly Clean and Empty Room (Image Sem Ceiatm BY CC 3.0)
How Avery Associates Clears Homes and Recycles Responsibly
We enter a client home with the intention of recycling. We could be clearing a deceased estate or a hoarded home, but the principles are similar:
1… First we remove items of value and dispatch them per client instructions. The goods may go to heirs, charity shops or second hand stores. We note everything on a register and make sure persons collecting sign for them.
2… However, if we discover items of unusual value, we set them aside under lock and key until our clients can inspect them personally and decide what to do. Jeffrey Avery is a professional valuer of note and he attends to these cases personally.
3… The remaining items may not have commercial value, although a recycling yard can usually process them into renewable materials. Everything leaves the home bagged and labelled.
We number the bags, enter them on the register, and ensure we get receipts for responsible disposal. That way we make sure we avoid inadvertently becoming involved in fly-tipping in England and Wales, which is a horrible thing and totally irresponsible.
Jeff at Avery Associates provided a complete service, from probate valuation, searching and clearing the property, finishing with the deep clean plus fencing replacement and garden tidy. An all-round service has left the property in a clean sellable state. Going the extra mile was indeed not only promised but delivered. Guidance, advice and practical work sorted us out. (Ian Corben)
