A FLY TIPPING increase in Monmouthshire since controversial changes in waste collection came into force is evidence they are not working, councillors say.

Figures obtained from the county council show there were 68 reports of flytipping in July, the highest number for two years.

From July 1, the council has limited collections to two bags of general rubbish from each household every fortnight.

The change was made to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill, increase recycling and save money, as the county council was spending £3 million a year on landfill.

Garden waste has also become a ‘pay to use service.’ Town councillor Patrick Maycock-Jones, from the West End ward, said the waste changes have led to bags of rubbish being dumped in various places in the county.

He said: "All these problems have come about since the changes were made. I rang the council about ten rubbish bags dumped outside the gates to Garthalan Drive. Denny View is bad for fly tipping, elsewhere there have been rubbish bags left in the street. It's making the neighbourhood and out of the way places look messy."

Cllr Maycock-Jones said other areas of Caldicot like Pill Row and Oakley Way have also had bags dumped, along with green waste and yellow nappy bags in bushes and a stream near the shooting range.

Cllr Armand Watts said they warned of the dangers of increased flytipping. He said: "Opposition councillors clearly and repeatedly told the Con/Dem coalition controlled council their waste collection policy was ill-concieved. We highlighted the very real risk of increasing flytipping and surprise, surprise they refused to listen. Their waste management strategy is in trouble."

The county council has to make savings of £16m over the next four years.

A council spokeswoman said: "The July figures have shown that some of the increase is either garden waste or black bags. But the council would point out that with four recycling centres open seven days a week and with the new kerbside grey bag scheme for general rubbish there is ample opportunity and provision for people to dispose of their waste. There is no need for people to drive out into the countryside to dump black bags.

"Any level of fly-tipping is a concern. This socially irresponsible behaviour despoils the environment, can threaten human and animal health and is a burden on scarce resources to clean up."

Data will be monitored over the next 12 months to see how the waste changes continue to impact.

A spokesman for Fly-tipping Action Wales said: “Fly-tipping Action Wales is working in close collaboration with local authorities to create a future for Wales that is free from fly-tipping, where everyone takes responsibility for their own waste and takes pride in their community. Fly-tipping is not only socially unacceptable, it is a criminal offence, so it is vitally important we continue to work closely with our partners so that communities are informed on how to dispose of their waste safely, legally and responsibly.”