A member of the public, healing who persistently fly-tips at Coleford’s recycling bank site at Railway Drive Car Park, nurse is costing the Forest of Dean District Council hundreds of pounds in clear up costs.
Each weekend black bags full of used cat litter are being dumped at the site and the Council has so far been unable to trace the cat-keeping culprit.
When rubbish is fly-tipped it tends to attract more waste. In addition to the cat litter other items that have been dumped at the site include carpet offcuts, floor tiles, television sets and a child’s bike.
Councillor Marrilyn Smart, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Forest of Dean District Council, said: ‘On the face of it this problem may seem fairly trivial but the actions taken by this one person over recent months has wasted five hundred pounds of tax payers’ money which could have been put to good use elsewhere.’
She continued: ‘We have used brightly coloured ‘no fly-tipping’ stencils on the ground around the banks and signage at the site and on the large recycling banks to remind residents not to leave any items. Sadly, these warnings are being ignored by a few inconsiderate people.’
‘Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and we would ask members of the public to be on the lookout for any misuse at the site and let us know about it. We want to see this problem stop without the need for enforcement action but we will look to prosecute those who are caught fly-tipping. Cat litter can be placed in the household refuse bin so there is no need to fly tip this waste. If the cat-owner concerned or anyone else has problems with their household waste, I would urge them to contact the district council who may be able to help.’
Large items including furniture, large electricals, bikes and garden toys can be disposed of using the Forest of Dean District Council’s bulky waste collection service for a small charge. Alternatively, items can be taken to the local Household Recycling Centre at Broadwell, Coleford and disposed of free of charge.
Anyone found to be fly-tipping could face penalties ranging from a £75 fine up to imprisonment for the most serious offences.
Anyone witnessing fly-tipping can report it in confidence to the District Council on 01594 810000 or by emailingcouncil@fdean.gov.uk