East Riding of Yorkshire Council has installed CCTV cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology in several areas to help reduce illegal rubbish dumping, known locally as fly-tipping.
The council has set up CCTV towers in Cottingham, Boynton, Rawcliffe, and Hessle, with a second camera planned for Cottingham. These AI cameras are designed to detect instances of rubbish dumping automatically and alert council enforcement officers for quick action. The council receives about 2,500 reports of fly-tipping every year, a problem that local authorities say has become a serious nuisance, especially in rural communities.
Councillor Lyn Healing said the fly-tipping issue had grown into a “blight and a nuisance” in some parts of the county. The new cameras are part of the council’s effort to step up enforcement and tackle the problem more effectively. She also mentioned that this technology has been successfully used by other councils and hopes for the same positive results in East Riding.
The AI-enabled CCTV towers will operate for a trial period of 12 months and feature anti-vandal measures to protect the equipment. After the trial, the council will assess how effective the cameras have been before deciding whether to make them permanent.
This development follows a smaller 12-week pilot scheme using a similar AI CCTV camera in Willerby aimed at reducing roadside littering. People caught fly-tipping on camera could face fines of up to £1,000 or prosecution in court. The success of this technology could set an example for other local governments battling similar problems.
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