More than 30 tons of rubbish is being illegally dumped on streets and in countryside around Walsall every week, it has emerged.

Fly-tipping is costing taxpayers in the area £85,000 a year. More than 16 tons of rubbish was yesterday cleared up in one day using digger trucks as part of a new drive to tackle fly-tipping. An earth moving machine along with a lorry had to be used to remove everything from mattresses, tyres and car parts from hotspots. The operation cost £3k.

The project marked the beginning of the council’s new Tackle The Tippers campaign.

The council’s Street Pride hired out a earth moving machine and a lorry to remove large amounts of rubbish discovered in Goscote Lane Crescent, Goscote; Pinfold Lane, Pheasey; and Cartbridge Lane South, in Rushall.

Walsall Council’s grounds and cleansing manager Andy Ody said: “These areas are targeted by fly-tippers because there aren’t many houses nearby so they think they won’t get caught out.

“This sort of clean up is essential to remove bulky items.

“These irresponsible flytippers are costing Walsall taxpayers money.

“We want this to stop. And the only way we can stop it occurring in the borough is if the public help us in our fight to catch the culprits,” he added.

Irresponsible residents, building and plumbing tradesmen trying to avoid disposal charges have been blamed for the 30 tons of rubbish dumped in the borough every week.

Walsall Council’s cabinet member for safer stronger communities Councillor Garry Perry said: “With the help of residents, we can help cut out fly-tipping, graffiti and other environmental crimes which not only make the community look a mess but also increase anti-social behaviour and other crimes.

“Residents need to take responsibility for their own waste.

The culprits don’t have to irresponsibly dump their rubbish. There are other ways and means of getting rid of it responsibly, including the household waste and recycling centres and we want to get this message across to them too.”