Vale Council deal with fly-tipping everyday since November

The figures come as the Vale Enforcement Team had to deal with one of their most bizarre incidents of fly-tipping yet.

In Hensol, just past Pendoylan, enforcement officers were faced with a mountain of tubes dumped on a country lane.

The incident was identified on January 23, a day before a mountain of rubbish was revealed to have been dumped in Llandow Industrial Estate.

The council now say enough is enough, launching Operation Griffin which looks to stamp out fly-tipping once and for.

A spokesperson for the council said the council will not stop until fly-tipping is eradicated.

“Our Environmental Enforcement Officers regularly patrol known fly-tipping hotspots and respond to any reports relating to this offence,” said the spokesperson.

“Since November 2022, the Council has dealt with more than 100 incidents of suspected fly-tipping in the Vale and launched Operation Griffin as a result. 

“This is a strategy whereby known fly-tipping hotspots are targeted and a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime adopted. That applies to littering, commercial waste offences, fly-tipping and acts of public urination or defecation.”

(The council have dealt with fly-tipping cases including an alleged illegal cannabis farm being dumped)

Cases have continued to escalate over the coming months.

At the beginning of January, officers discovered what they suspect to be waste from an illegal cannabis factory on the popular Bendricks beach, and over 30 bin bags were fly-tipped on a picturesque lane near Pendoylan.

(Most recently they had to deal with a pile of tubes in Hensol)

(The council have launched Operation Griffin to deal with fly-tipping)

A spokesperson said the council is aware of what is going on.

“Each incident is treated as a separate crime scene and a full-scale criminal investigation takes place,” said the spokesperson.

“Officers gather evidence, interview suspects and, in the case of incidents involving evidence of illegal cannabis cultivation, work closely with partners in Community Safety and South Wales Police.

“In March 2022, the Council established the Waste Crime Unit.  The WCU specialises in investigating and prosecuting fly-tipping and other waste crimes and is composed of ex-police and HM Prion Service officers.

“Fly-tipping is a crime. Anyone found to be committing this type of offence could face serious consequences, which include being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, prosecution, fines of up to £50,000 or even imprisonment.”