Tonnes of fly-tipped waste dumped in a Middlesbrough back alley have been branded an ‘outrage’.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for the public to dispose of waste legally and responsibly, rather than leaving Council Tax payers to foot the bill for expensive clean-up operations.
An estimated nine tonnes of household and business waste were dumped in the alleyway between Errol Road and Abingdon Road in the town centre just nine days after the alley was deep cleaned.
The blatant fly-tip resulted in a morning’s work for a team of six operatives from Middlesbrough Council’s Environment Services department.
Residents are once again being urged to take responsibility for their neighbourhoods and report the fly-tippers in an ongoing town-wide drive to stamp out the problem.
Since the start of the year 44 individuals have been hit with fines of up to £800 for environmental crime-related offences including fly-tipping and littering offences, with four prosecutions resulting in convictions at court.
Councillor Janet Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Community Safety, said: “This is beyond a joke, and those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.
“Fly-tipping is selfish, needless and inconsiderate and it’s an outrage that law-abiding residents should have to put up with this sort of behaviour.
“It’s also an insult to our hard-working operatives who tackle incidents like this day in, day out - we will go after these people and we will prosecute them.
“By working together we can hold them to account, and reclaim our streets for the vast majority who care for their neighbourhoods.”
Anyone with information on fly-tipping can send details to evidence@middlesbrough.gov.uk or call the Contact Centre on 01642 726001.
Fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour and many other offences can also be reported on our website.
Residents can also book online to dispose of large items at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre at Haverton Hill.
There is no charge for residents but fees apply for businesses