Fly tipping and pollution
Help us catch Aldridge’s mystery mattress fly-tipper
Published on
Evidence is needed to help track down those responsible for illegally dumping mattresses on an estate in Aldridge.
The incident was first reported to Walsall Council on Thursday 27 February 2025 through the council’s website. The report indicated that mattresses were initially found along the Northgate Way Road and footpath in Aldridge but were later moved to the layby to avoid obstructing the road.
The council's fly-tipping taskforce investigated the area, which was then cordoned off as part of the council’s ‘EnviroCrime’ initiative. This initiative treats fly-tipped sites as crime scenes and 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.
“ This blight on our community is disgraceful. We are investigating to bring those responsible to justice, but we need your help.
The mattresses were dumped in an industrial estate. We are asking neighbouring businesses or residents with CCTV footage or doorbell recordings to come forward. Given the large scale of the fly-tipping, we believe that it likely involved a transit van or large commercial vehicle.
If you have any information or witnessed the fly-tipping, please come forward. Your information could be crucial in prosecuting those responsible. “
Walsall Council offers a £500 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution for fly-tipping. To report any details relating to this incident, or report a fly-tip in general visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/apply/myaccount-online-services/report-fly-tip.
Fly-tipped mattresses on Northgate Way, Aldridge
The EnviroCrime car situated next to the fly-tipped mattresses on Northgate Way, Aldridge
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- The EnviroCrime initiative is a project by Walsall Council that addresses fly-tipping through a dual-pronged approach, combining education and enforcement. The initiative employs various strategies, including issuing warning letters, offering advice on council services, treating fly-tipped areas as crime scenes, and engaging with residents through roadshows to understand the root causes of fly-tipping. By combining these methods, the council aims to change the behaviour of perpetrators and create a cleaner, greener borough for all.
- 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 Centres (HWRCs) in the borough of Walsall which are free to use: Fryers Road, Bloxwich and Merchants Way, Aldridge. A new state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station in Aldridge is also under construction, due to be completed later this year.
- 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 submitted here https://go.walsall.gov.uk/apply/myaccount-online-services/report-fly-tip and may consist of photos, statements, or paperwork. Should submitted documents result in a successful prosecution, the reward of £500 will be issued.
