A council worker was caught illegally dumping piles of commercial waste into bins used by residents for household waste.
The Middlesbrough Council employee was seen helping two people tip rubbish from the back of a white Transit van into bins solely designated for residents. The incident on 11 December occurred in broad daylight, behind Bow Street in the Newport ward, and was caught on camera by a local resident.
All three individuals, including the council employee, were issued fixed penalty notices. But the resident said: “Despite the council’s response to this specific incident, I am concerned about the lack of systemic change in their approach to preventing fly-tipping.
“The council’s current measures, including surveillance and enforcement, appear to be insufficient in deterring such illegal activities effectively. Since the incident, I have noticed that the issue of fly-tipping in our area persists.
“This act is not only a clear violation of our local waste management regulations but also poses grave ethical and environmental concerns. As a concerned citizen and a resident of Middlesbrough, I feel it is imperative for our community to be informed about these actions, which undermine the principles of public service and accountability.”
Fly-tipping is an ongoing issue in the back alleys of Middlesbrough, particularly around the Newport and North Ormesby areas. In November, a resident said the alleys were being used as a dumping ground for house clearance waste.
He shared images of old mattresses, furniture and food waste dumped behind Jubilee Street in North Ormesby. Another householder told how rats had set home in dumped mattresses behind West Terrace.
The Local Democracy Service contacted Middlesbrough Council about the Bow Street footage. In response, a spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a fly-tipping incident on Bow Street in Middlesbrough on 11 December 2023. The council has a policy on fly-tipping enforcement, which in the majority of cases sees them dealt with by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.”
The spokesperson said it would be “inappropriate” to comment further on individual cases. Reports of fly-tipping can be made to the council’s contact centre on 01642 726001 or online at www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/report
