Ilhan Ozcan, the owner of Pizzaholic, a very popular takeaway shop in Heaton, Newcastle. He struggles against a near-daily challenge of fly-tipping which threatens his bottom line. Ever since opening the shop in 2010, Ozcan has seen a corresponding increase in the dumping of household rubbish into and around his commercial bins. This surge is particularly acute from May to July when many students are moving out of their rental properties.
Ozcan’s commercial bins, often locked to prevent illegal dumping, are filled within minutes whenever left unlocked. The problem has reached new and dangerous extremes. During the last year, Ozcan has already been forced to pay for the disposal of this rubbish three times due to the overcrowding waste. Each July, landlords and letting agents come out of the woodwork, getting OH in August. This war footing further feeds the right-wing burgeoning disorder.
By Tuesday, Ozcan had begun to realize just how deep the issue went. A soiled couch lay in the back lane of his home, which contributed to the hubbub. He attributes much of the fly-tipping to irresponsible landlords who fail to manage their properties effectively during this transitional period.
“It is making the area dirty as well as costing me financially,” Ozcan expressed, emphasizing the toll that this ongoing issue takes on both his business and the local environment. What really gets him riled up is the impunity with which property owners operate. Through Zero Waste Academy, he wants the rest of the community to embrace a more preventative mindset about waste.
The city’s leaders recognize challenges business owners such as Ozcan are up against. A spokesperson stated, “We recognise that improper use of commercial bins places an unfair burden on business owners.” This commendation is indicative of a growing concern within the community. Fly-tipping is not just a blight on our local areas, it’s trashing the prospects of local businesses and damaging public spaces too.
The crime of fly-tipping has long been a concern for Ozcan, especially during the move-out period for students. Under normal circumstances, late spring and early summer are times when students return home. This results in a substantial wave of garbage being irresponsibly disposed of in the nearby neighborhoods. This cycle further compounds the impact to local businesses that pay the price for our waste.
