Calderdale Council is stepping up the fight against fly-tippers and appealing for residents to help catch the culprits.
It comes after the council cleared 60 illegally dumped tyres and four tonnes of rubbish and rubble from a track in Shelf.
Furniture, carpets, dozens of bricks, large pieces of wood and household waste were just some of the items abandoned along Halifax Road and on the track between Carr House Road and Carr House Lane,.
There was so much that workers had to use a tractor. A new barrier has been put in to try to prevent further fly-tipping.
It was one of many such incidents in recent months.
Kirklees Council also revealed this week they are dealing with a staggering 250 flytipping reports each month, leading to a huge environmental concern.
Clr Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “Most people throw their rubbish away properly, but it’s appalling that some people think they can blight our landscape and use other people’s land as a dumping ground.
“Not only is it illegal – last year we successfully brought five prosecutions through the courts with fines up to £1000 each – it can also be harmful to people and wildlife, is extremely unsightly and costs Calderdale council tax payers up to £140,000 per year.
“enough is enough – we need to put a stop to fly-tipping in the first place, and are sending out a clear message that we won’t hesitate to prosecute offenders.
“We do all we can to deter and detect fly-tippers but we rely on evidence to successfully prosecute. Quite often this comes from the people in our communities who see the culprits in action, and we need your help. If you witness this crime, we urge you to get in touch – join the fight against fly-tippers and together we can tackle the problem.”
New legislation introduced in April means councils can now crack down even more on fly-tipping, with the power to stop, search and seize vehicles suspected of waste crime. The aim is to take more immediate action, hopefully resulting in more prosecutions.
