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The incident involved several bags of household waste being left beside a litter bin, an offence that constitutes fly‑tipping and carries a fine of up to £1,000.

An appeal for information enabled the Council to identify the individual responsible. In their appeal, the perpetrator stated that their household bins were full and that additional waste had been left in their garden, but they were unable to explain how the waste subsequently came to be fly‑tipped at the location.

The appeal was not accepted, and a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) was issued for the offence. The perpetrator has now paid the early‑payment penalty of £650, bringing the case to a close.

Fly‑tipping is a criminal offence, and all householders have a legal Duty of Care to ensure their waste is stored securely and disposed of correctly using authorised services. Overflowing bins or surplus waste do not justify illegal dumping.

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement said: “Fly‑tipping is completely unacceptable and blights our communities. While some people may think that leaving a few bags of waste is a minor issue, every single fly‑tip has to be cleared up, and that comes at a direct cost to taxpayers.

“Whether it’s a single bag or a van‑load of waste, there is no excuse for dumping rubbish illegally. If bins are full, residents must use one of the many legal options available rather than leaving waste where it doesn’t belong.

“We take a zero‑tolerance approach to environmental crime and will take enforcement action wherever the evidence allows. Anyone choosing to fly‑tip should expect to face robust consequences.”

Residents are also reminded that if waste is traced back to them, enforcement action may still be taken even if it has been fly‑tipped elsewhere.

This case reinforces Telford & Wrekin Council’s zero‑tolerance approach to fly‑tipping and highlights the effectiveness of public appeals in helping to protect local communities from environmental crime. The Council would like to remind residents that there are legal and straightforward ways to dispose of large electrical items, including:

• Using household waste and recycling collections as scheduled
• Taking larger items or excess waste to the Council’s Household Recycling Centres at Hortonwood and Halesfield, open daily 9am–5pm (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day)
• Arranging a bulky waste collection through the Council

Fly‑tipping can be reported confidentially online at www.telford.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling the confidential hotline on 01952 388 800.