Waste and recycling
9 tonnes of fly-tipping removed from Dalkeith Street
Published on
A significant amount of fly-tipping has been successfully cleared from Dalkeith Street in Birchills after a legal notice to remove the waste was not adhered to.
On Tuesday 8 January 2025, a large-scale cleanup was conducted to remove waste from the highway. Due to the scale of the operation, road closures were imposed while five loads of waste were loaded onto HIAB crane lorries for proper disposal. The clearance involved litter removal by the council's Street Cleansing team and cleaning by a precinct sweeper.
“ The council has invested considerable resources to address the fly-tipping issues on Dalkeith Street. It is severely disappointing that such extreme measures were necessary, but we had to intervene after our legal notices were not satisfactorily adhered to.
"We intend to proceed with legal action which, if successful, will require those responsible to pay for the cleanup. I want this to serve as a stark reminder that fly-tippers will not get away with it and will be fined.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in Walsall, and those who choose to blight our community will not go unpunished. “
A notice was initially served to a property on Hollyhedge Lane, which expired at midnight on Friday 6 December 2024. After reviewing the site, Walsall Council determined that best efforts had not been made to clear the waste. Given the impact on the surrounding area and the health risks posed by the waste, the council had to step in to clear it.
Since April 2022, Walsall Council has cleared 74 different fly-tipping incidents from the street, costing around £15,000 in total.
CCTV has been installed in the area which aims to deter future incidents.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £20,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court). Offenders can even be sent to prison.
- There are two Household Waste Recycling Centers (HWRCs) in the borough of Walsall which are free to use: Fryers Road, Bloxwich and Merchants Way, Aldridge.
- The council offers a bulky items collection service for residents who may struggle to take larger items to a Household Waste Recycling Centre. This can be booked through the Council website.
- Residents who are struggling to manage their household waste, for example because of a growing family or an ongoing medical condition, can apply for a larger bin through the Council’s website.
- Walsall Council offers a £500 reward for information on fly-tipping incidents which results in prosecution. Evidence can be sent to flytipping@walsall.gov.uk and may consist of photos, statements, or paperwork. Should submitted documents result in a successful prosecution, the reward of £500 will be issued.
