Fly tipping and pollution
Freeze! Can you help catch Walsall’s fridge fly-tipper?
Published on
Walsall Council is asking residents for help in identifying a fly-tipper who dumped several fridges on a cul-de-sac off Bloxwich Road.
The council's fly-tipping taskforce found a pile of fridges dumped on Suffolk Place, a cul-de-sac just off Bloxwich Road (B4210). The fridges had been dismantled, with the scrap metal removed and remains dumped.
The area was cordoned off as part of the council’s ‘EnviroCrime’ initiative, which treats fly-tipped sites as crime scenes. This initiative underscores Walsall Council’s zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping, ensuring that offenders are aware an investigation is underway. By treating these sites as active crime scenes, the council aims to deter future fly-tipping incidents.
“ We believe the tipper would have had to reverse down the Suffolk Place cul-de-sac to illegally dump these fridges, and then exited onto Bloxwich Road after committing this crime.
Given the significant number of fridges discarded, we suspect it involved a commercial vehicle. Our fly-tipping officers have been consulting with local residents, and a white transit van was reportedly seen around the time of the incident.
If you possess any dash camera or doorbell footage, or if you witnessed the fly-tipping directly, we urge you to come forward. Any information you provide could be crucial in our efforts to prosecute those responsible for this blight on our community. “
This October, the council is focusing its investigation efforts on fly-tipping in Blakenall, Birchills and Bloxwich East. Council officers have actively responded to resident reports in these areas, where a recent incident was uncovered.
If you have any information on this fly-tipping incident, please contact Walsall Council by emailing Flytipping@walsall.gov.uk.
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.
- The ‘EnviroCrime’ initiative is a project by Walsall Council that addresses fly-tipping by treating affected areas as crime scenes. This approach highlights the council's zero-tolerance stance on fly-tipping, making it clear to offenders that investigations are actively conducted. By designating these sites as active crime scenes, the council aims to deter future incidents of fly-tipping.
- There are two Household Waste Recycling Centres (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.
