Revealed: Huge cost of tackling Dudley's fly-tip menace

Sites in Quarry Bank, Kingswinford, Cradley and Halesowen were among those most targeted by people dumping waste.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show Dudley Council was forced to pay out £49,395 in 2013/14 to clear up rubbish and £35,255 in 2012/13.

Cabinet member Councillor Khurshid Ahmed said the council worked hard to track down and prosecute fly-tippers in the borough.

• Mears Coppice, Quarry Bank

• Lapal Lane South, Halesowen

• Holbeache Lane, Kingswinford

• Hellier Street, Dudley

• Foxcote Lane, Cradley[/breakout]

Councillor Ahmed said: "The cost of staff time clearing up fly-tipping and then disposing of the waste over the last two years was just over £80,000 which we hope illustrates to people what a serious offence this is.

"With the help of the community, we have carried out prosecutions where we are able to identify the offenders."

In September, the council was forced to take action after rubbish was left strewn across waste land off Clinic Drive in Lye near shops, restaurants and homes.

Residents living nearby and Abdul Qadus, chairman of Lye Community Centre, had called for the site to be cleared up after it was targeted by flytippers.

Mr Qadus said it was still a problem with more waste having been dumped in recent days including car seats and a mattress.

"It's disgraceful what people do, they just think it's ok to dump their rubbish anywhere. They should be more considerate to other people. It's not right that taxpayers are having to pay the cost of clearing it up when the rubbish shouldn't be there in the first place," added Mr Qadus.

It came after members of the community group Tidy Stourbridge, which lead litter picks across the town, held a clear up around the area just a few months earlier.

The bill for Dudley was lower than in neighbouring borough Sandwell where bosses were forced to spent £666,710 in 2013/14 up from £381,350 the year before.

Among the waste items dumped are kitchen white goods. The council dealt with 1,708 dumped fridges from January to June this year, up from 306 the year before.

Councillor Ahmed added: "We would urge people who witness fly-tipping, or have any information about incidents in the borough, to contact Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345 as we will not hesitate to prosecute people through the courts for this kind of anti-social behaviour."