PEOPLE in Bexley are being asked to watch out for flytippers, following a spate of illegal dumping.

Since May there have been 25 incidents of illegal rubbish dumping across Bexley, and the majority of incidents have been in the north of the borough.

The flytippers are targeting cul-de-sacs, alleyways and the ends of roads, where their activities cannot be easily seen.

Rubbish being tipped in the latest spate of incidents includes general household waste including old kitchen and bathroom fittings, brick rubble and lots of conifer tree branches and cuttings.

Bexley Council is asking everyone to be vigilant and to try and take down descriptions and registration numbers of any vehicles involved.

Already, the council’s enviro-crime team is investigating two vehicle registration numbers which it believes were involved in some of the recent dumping incidents.

Although the council will clear rubbish fly tipped on or next to the public highway, anything dumped in private alleyways is the the responsibilty of the residents who, in most cases, are the alley’s joint owners.

Last year Bexley spent £25,000 cleaning up after flytippers The council does not offer a clearance service, so residents would have to make their own clearance arrangements for their alleyways, and pay for the work.

Bexley says if the rubbish involves anything potentially dangerous, such as chemical waste or fridges, it will clear those items.

Councillor Gareth Bacon, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Fly tipping costs Bexley council taxpayers thousands of pounds each year.”

He added: “Many people do not realise they are responsible for their waste, even if they pay someone to remove it.

“If it ends up being dumped illegally they, as well as the people doing the actual fly tipping, can incur heavy fines.”

Fly tipping is an offence both under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Highways Act 1980 and carries a fine of up to £50,000 or a 12 months prison sentence.

Anyone with information about flytipping or those responsible can cann 020 8303 7777 option one.