Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has spent approximately £10 million on waste collection and disposal, including £1.643 million on dealing with fly tipping, dumping and littering in the past year.
And it is ratepayers who are picking up the bill as the issue continues to worsen across the county with the Council telling this newspaper that there is now an “increasing trend in incidents.”
In 2017/18 there were 379 fly tipping incidents and 114 fixed penalties issued by the Council while across Northern Ireland about £140m is spent per year in cleaning up illegal dumping.
“Council staff work constantly to clean up our environment but we need the support of the public to stop littering. If a member of the public observes dumping/littering of any kind they should take the details such as car registration and report it to the Council so that enforcement action may be taken,” said a spokeswoman.
 A number of initiatives are currently being implemented by both the Council and others including enforcement dash cameras on dedicated Council vehicles.
The Council says it is committed to working with others to address the causes and consequences of litter and illegal dumping and to encourage more positive behaviours in relation to improving our environment.
“Behaviour needs to change. The Council fully supports the ‘Leave No Trace’ principle and encourages members of the public to help protect our beautiful and unspoilt landscape by taking their rubbish home.”

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From Enniskillen to Belleek. From Kinawley to Kesh. From Rosslea to Irvinestown. Fly tipping and littering has become a major issue in Fermanagh and enough is enough.
The Impartial Reporter has launched its very own Keep Fermanagh Tidy campaign which aims to raise awareness of the growing problem of illegal dumping in the area which has already cost ratepayers over £1.6 million in the last 12 months. 
Week after week this newspaper publishes photographs of discarded beer cans, crisp packets, sandwich wrappers and a multitude of other waste along with the remarks of a frustrated member of the public, politician or Council spokesperson.
Last week it was empty beer bottles and a used condom found near a house in Lisnaskea, this week it’s rubbish dumped near Ely Lodge in Enniskillen. What will it be next time?
We want to continue to shine a spotlight on this issue and need your help.
If you spot illegal dumping or littering in Fermanagh please e-mail us photographs and your thoughts to editorial@impartialreporter.com with the location or phone us on 028 66 32 44 22 to let us know.  You can, of course, remain anonymous if you wish. 
Like you, we care deeply about our county which is renowned for its lakes, scenery and its nature. And like you, we want to Keep Fermanagh Tidy.