Fly-tipping ground has so much rubbish it can be seen from space

Fly-tipping ground has so much rubbish including sofas, bathtubs and fridges, it can be seen from space

  • Site in Newport, Wales has hundreds of car tyres, piles of clothes and doors
  • Piles of waste at the dumping ground are visible from satellite on Google Earth
  • A Newport councillor believes rogue waste collectors may be to blame

A fly-tipping ground with heaps of sofas, bathtubs and fridges now has so much rubbish it can be seen from space.

The site is piled high with household items with hundreds of car tyres, piles of clothes, suitcases and doors scattered across the disused road off the M4 in Newport, south Wales.

The dumping ground is so littered pictures of the piles of waste are visible from satellite on Google Earth.

It has been an issue in the area for many years, with locals branding the site a ‘haven for rats’ in 2017.  

Resident Chris Taylor filmed the scale of the rubbish while out on his daily exercise with his family.

He said: ‘It’s been like this for some time. The frustrating thing about it is the scenery around it is amazing. The cycle path is lovely but then you turn in to this.

The site is piled high with household items with hundreds of car tyres, piles of clothes, suitcases and doors scattered across the disused road off the M4 in Newport, south Wales

The dumping ground is so littered pictures of the piles of waste are visible from satellite on Google Earth

The dumping ground is so littered pictures of the piles of waste are visible from satellite on Google Earth

‘It’s a concern as it is so close to the houses.

‘At the end of the road there is an abandoned boat wreckage.

‘It doesn’t seem to be very well patrolled.

‘As I understand it, it’s been going on for years.’

Newport councillor Allan Morris, who lives nearby the site at Coedkernew, believes rogue waste collectors may be to blame.

He said: ‘People are accumulating more rubbish because they are at home all the time.

‘But unscrupulous people are taking advantage of sensible people staying home because there are fewer eyes on them dumping their unwanted goods.

Newport councillor Allan Morris, who lives nearby the site at Coedkernew, believes rogue waste collectors may be to blame

Newport councillor Allan Morris, who lives nearby the site at Coedkernew, believes rogue waste collectors may be to blame

He said: 'People are accumulating more rubbish because they are at home all the time'

He said: ‘People are accumulating more rubbish because they are at home all the time’

Another neighbour living nearby said rats have been seen feeding at the site

Another neighbour living nearby said rats have been seen feeding at the site

‘If people are paying people to take their stuff away, you should ask for photos of it at its final destination before you part with your money.’

Another neighbour living nearby said rats have been seen feeding at the site.

They said: ‘The vermin it attracts is awful.

‘It’s such an eyesore.

‘No-one seems to be doing anything about it. It seems to be out of sight, out of mind.’

Flytipping reporting app ClearWaste said there had been an 88 per cent increase in rubbish dumping since the start of lockdown.

The Welsh Local Government Association said councils had been forced to close recycling centres because of the fear of spreading coronavirus but the decision was being kept ‘under constant review’

Flytipping reporting app ClearWaste said there had been an 88 per cent increase in rubbish dumping since the start of lockdown

Flytipping reporting app ClearWaste said there had been an 88 per cent increase in rubbish dumping since the start of lockdown

A spokesman said: ‘We understand that this is a very challenging time for everyone. However, fly tipping remains entirely unacceptable and is a criminal offence.

‘We would urge everyone to act responsibly by storing any waste which isn’t suitable for recycling or residual collection until normal service is resumed.’

A Newport City Council spokeswoman said: ‘The land in question is owned by a number of organisations and private owners.

‘We’re currently working with partners including NRW, Fly-tipping Action Wales, police, fire and Welsh Government to establish all ownership details and develop an action plan so we can prosecute and prevent further dumping.’

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