Fly-tippers dump huge pile of waste close to canal
Huge mounds of rubbish have been dumped close to a canal in Walsall.
Fly-tipping left the mess on Rayboulds Bridge Road off Green Lane last week.
Among the items carelessly dumped include fridges and freezers, a bed, fence panels and garden waste.
Walsall Council says it is investigating the incident – urging anyone who knows the culprits to come forward.
Operatives from the Clean and Green are currently looking through the waste for evidence that may lead to a prosecution.
Mark Holden, head of Clean and Green at the council said: “Fly-tippers are criminals so we would not encourage people to approach them directly. If you have any information, we would encourage you to call Walsall Council, so that it can be investigated, but if you see somebody actually in the act of fly-tipping, call the police on 999.
“With help from the local community we can put an end to this irresponsible activity which damages the local environment and prevents people from being able to enjoy their local area.
“Residents are asked to do their bit too, by not using ‘white van men’ who offer house clearances and the like at knock down prices.
"There’s a reason these people can offer knock down prices – it's because the waste they collect will end up in a country lane rather than legally disposed of at a commercial tip.
"Many of these people also won’t be licensed waste carriers – an offence in itself.”
It comes after fly-tippers dumped a huge pile of waste in the middle of a busy road in the borough last month, blocking drivers from getting past.
The builders’ waste included a door, ladder, buckets, cardboard and wood.
Walsall saw 4,565 incidents of fly-tipping last year, costing £391,372 to clean up, with 2,653 incidents in Wolverhampton and a clean-up bill of £129,782. Dudley had 1,069 incidents, with costs of £63,295.
Sandwell recorded the most incidents with5,288 incidents. Taxpayers had to cough up £328,764 in clean-up bills for the year 2016/17.
