Warning to beware of rogue flytippers

Black bin collections are to be cut from weekly to fortnightly and green waste collections are to be axed altogether, to save around £4m a year.

This comes as the authority is faced with making up to £57m of financial cuts in the coming financial year.

Yesterday, the Country, Land and Business Association asked householders to “think twice” before accepting offers from strangers claiming they can cheaply dispose of waste.

CLA North regional director Dorothy Fairburn said: “Whenever a local authority cuts its waste collections, rogue traders spot a gap in the market and will approach residents offering to remove their rubbish for cash in hand.

“The reality is that these cowboys often take the waste and dump it on private land rather than dispose of it legally.”

According to Miss Fairburn, it is often the landowner who has to pick up the bill for properly disposing of the rubbish.

She said: “The owners of the land where waste is dumped have to remove it themselves, often at considerable cost.

“If this isn’t done quickly, more fly-tipping often takes place and the pile grows. We are asking everyone with waste to dispose of to please do it properly and legally.”

Before the new waste plans are finalised, a formal decision will be made at a meeting of the cabinet committee next month, and then brought before a full council meeting in March.

Coun Leigh Bramall, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Saving millions of pounds within the waste service will allow the council to protect services for those that most need help and support, like vulnerable older people.

“I believe that’s the right choice and I think that Sheffield people will understand and support that approach.”