INCIDENCES of fly tipping carrier bags of dog mess have soared in Chepstow since the amount of rubbish householders can put out was capped.

The town council has had to deploy its contractor to collect the dirt dumped by its dog waste collection bins.

Its clerk Sandra Bushell reported to members a bin's opening had to be adapted to cope with the surge.

Each time there has been a problem, she has reported it as fly tipping to Monmouthshire council.

Figures obtained from the county council show there were 68 reports of flytipping in July.

From the start of that month, the county's householders were limited to put out two bags of general rubbish 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.

Councillors Armand Watts from Chepstow and Patrick Maycock-Jones from Caldicot said the rise in fly tipping was evidence the changes, which caused a great deal of controversy, were not working.

Last week Ms Bushell forwarded an email she sent to the county council about the overflowing bins to town council members.

Addressed to waste strategy and resources manager Rachel Jowitt it said: "I have been advised to contact you to make you aware of an unfortunate consequence of Monmouthshire County Council’s recent change in refuse collection arrangements.

"Since the change to fortnightly refuse collection and introduction of the two semi transparent refuse sacks per fortnight, we have experienced a very significant increase in the fly tipping of carrier bags of domestically collected dog waste at our dog waste collection bins. You will appreciate that our dog waste bins are intended for dog waste picked up from the highway and are not designed to accommodate carrier bags full of waste. Chepstow Town Council has placed notices advising residents of this fact on a number of the bins however this has had little effect.

"Our contractor has made a number of special collections to clear this fly tipping at additional cost to the Town Council. However, this situation can not continue and I have therefore asked that future incidents be referred to MCC for urgent attention.

"I am aware that this problem is not limited to Chepstow and that other community/town councils who provide a dog waste disposal service are encountering a similar problem.

"I should appreciate your views on how we might address this issue. Should we consider a publicity campaign to advise residents haw to dispose of their waste?"