Look out for fly-tippers warning after bins used to dump building waste

Published: 18 October 2023

People in Exeter are being urged to keep an eye out for instances of fly-tipping after three litter bins in the city were used to dump builder’s waste in, including what looks like used asbestos material.

The City Council said three litter bins in Burnthouse Lane had been sealed off, whilst a specialist asbestos removal company took the contents away.

The disposal costs are likely to be around £450.

A spokesman for the Council’s Public and Green Space team, said: “We have a persistent fly-tipper that is fly-tipping builders waste in the bins on a weekly basis, and now they have decided to tip what is likely to be asbestos in them.”

Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for Place and City Management said: “Someone, somewhere must have an idea who is doing this. These bins are meant to be for on-the-go litter like crisp packets and chocolate bar wrappers, not building materials and certainly not hazardous waste.

“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and can result in fines of up to £50,000 in Magistrates Courts and potentially much more in higher courts. If anyone has any information about who is doing this, I would urge them to get in touch with the council. People can report fly-tipping directly on our website at https://exeter.gov.uk/clean-safe-city/litter-rubbish/report-fly-tipping/

“This needs to stop, otherwise we will be forced to take these litter bins out of operation for the safety of the public and our own workforce,” she added.