Fly-tipping blackspot cleared in Perth after 15 years of illegal dumping
Heavy machinery took three days to clear the waste from the private land at Lower Friarton. Perth and Kinross Council leader Grant Laing said it had been an "eyesore for some time".
Tuesday 26 March 2024 15:48, UK
More than 230 tonnes of illegally-dumped rubbish has been removed from a fly-tipping blackspot in Perth.
Heavy machinery took three days to clear the waste from the private land on the banks of the River Tay at Lower Friarton.
Some of the rubbish was estimated to have been at the site for around 15 years.
Perth and Kinross Council said it took action as the problem was getting "out of control" and the decision was made "for the good of the local environment".
The waste was taken to local sites for the metal and plastic to be recycled.
The clean-up operation was carried out by the council, Scottish Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and Tay Salmon Fisheries.
The site will now be further tidied up by the council's unpaid work team.
Fences and walls will be erected on either side of the road to discourage future fly-tipping, and CCTV has been installed to catch any perpetrators in the act.
Council leader Grant Laing said it had been an "eyesore for some time".
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He added: "Rubbish and waste was being dumped right at the edge of the river and so it was posing an environmental risk.
"We estimate that some of the illegally-dumped waste had been there for around 15 years, and the fact we took away over 200 tonnes showed the scale of the problem."
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Alex Macaskill, SEPA unit manager for Falkirk, Alloa, Stirling and Perth, said illegal operators often hide what they're going to do with the waste.
He added: "Services that sound too good to be true often are - and could lead to your waste being illegally fly-tipped.
"Don't entrust your waste to someone if they are unable to tell you basic information like their SEPA waste carrier registration number and the named site they are taking the waste to.
"Remember, if they dispose of it illegally and we can trace the waste back to you - you can be held to account and prosecuted or fined as well."