'Fly-tippers dump anywhere and we struggle to cope'

Fly-tipping has become so prevalent that a Worcestershire waste removal business says it is struggling to keep up with the number of call-outs.

Steve Hempstock, owner of Steve's Rubbish Removals in Worcester, said he was now being asked to clear illegally dumped waste "two or three times" a week and believed the problem had worsened over the last couple of years.

"We're struggling to cope with it, to be honest," he said, adding: "People are just tipping it anywhere."

The business owner said fly-tippers were targeting industrial estates, private land and rural locations, leaving behind everything from household waste and rubble, to hazardous materials including asbestos and needles.

"We go into industrial estates, private land owners... people are just tipping it anywhere," he said.

Asked what he typically finds at fly-tipping sites, he said: "Rubble, household waste, you name it, it's there."

Hempstock said those affected by the dumped waste were often shocked by the scale of the problem.

"They just can't believe it," he said. "There are cameras there but they don't take any notice, even with cameras."

The business owner, who regularly shares footage of the waste he clears on social media, said rising disposal costs could be behind the increase.

"Over the last couple of years, I'd say," he said when asked about when demand began to rise.

"I think it's to do with the price of tipping it and it's caused people to resort to tipping it illegally."

Among the worst incidents he has encountered was at a property in Ombersley while the owners were on holiday.

"Some people were away on holiday in Ombersley and [the fly-tippers] reversed up their drive, up a little track," he said.

"They tipped a hell of a lot of waste by the side of their house while they were away on holiday.

"There was absolutely all sorts there - I couldn't believe it."

Hempstock urged residents to check anyone removing waste was properly licensed and to ask for proof it had been disposed of legally.

"Ask to see their waste licence, ask to see proof of tipping with tipping receipts and ask where they're actually taking the waste," he said.

Hempstock's comments come just days after six mounds of rubbish were fly-tipped at Button Oak, near Bewdley, including concrete, rubble, pipes, bricks and clothes.

Richard Boles, from Forestry England, said it was the worst fly tip he had "ever seen", adding: "It's horrendous - we've got to clean this up thoroughly now, and it will come at a great cost to us."

"We occasionally get fly-tips dumped in our car parks on the sides of roads, but nothing on this scale," he said.

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