Sheffield Council has issued just ONE fine for fly-tipping offences in seven months

Fly-tipping at the former Sheffield Ski Village site

Sheffield Council has issued just one penalty charge notice to fly-tippers since May, The Star can reveal.

The Government brought in new legislative powers which allows councils to hand out fixed penalty notices for small-scale fly-tipping offences.

Figures show Sheffield Council has issued just one fine for fly-tipping offences in seven months

But since the new law came into play in May of this year, Sheffield Council has issued just one fine.

Comparing other cities, authorities in Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle handed out 104 fines between them raking in over Â£20,000.

But Sheffield does better than most authorities as council's in Nottingham, Wakefield, Leicester, Leeds, Bristol, Bradford, Birmingham, Sunderland, Coventry and Derby issued none.

The new provisions allow a waste collection authority in England to issue fines for fly-tipping, between Â£150 and not more than Â£400 depending on the circumstances.

Tom Obbard, Director at Furniture Choice who carried out the research, said: “Knowing that fly-tipping incidents are increasing year-on-year in England is a major concern.

"Hopefully, councils that have implemented these new legislative powers, which include fines of up to Â£400, will begin to see a reduction in fly-tipping incidents in the near future.

"There are a variety of reasons that could explain the lack of penalties issued, for example, no reporting of incidents to the council or lack of manpower to engage with the new laws.

“Perhaps, further education on the effects that dumping illegal waste has on the environment will help reduce incidents of fly-tipping across England.”

In an attempt to help the councils reduce fly-tipping, Furniture Choice has created an online tool that shows residents the locations that they can dispose of unwanted furniture and white goods free of charge in an environmentally friendly manner."

The tool can be seen here

Sheffield Council has been contacted for a comment.

The councils who handed out the most fixed penalty notices since May 9, 2016

Fly-tipping on Furnace Hill, Sheffield city centre

1. Liverpool (39) estimated cost Â£7,800

2. Brighton (33) estimated cost Â£6,600

3. Manchester and Newcastle (32) estimated cost Â£6,400

4. Brent, London (26) estimated cost Â£5,200

5. Stoke-on-Trent (17) estimated cost Â£3,400