AROUND 50 tonnes of rubbish have been cleared in the first three months of Newport City Council's 'Pride in Newport' campaign.

The campaign, launched in the summer in a bid to combat fly-tipping in and around areas of Newport, is run by council and backed by the Argus as well as Newport City Homes, Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Fly-tipping Action Wales.

Since its launch, 15 warning letters have been issued to people who have failed to properly or legally dispose of their waste and recycling items.

A total of seven section 46 notices have also been issued to residents who have failed to comply with storing, disposing or presenting waste for collection, and one fixed penalty notice has been issued because an offender failed to take note of other warnings, with two other prosecutions pending.

As part of the campaign, a Pride in Newport hotline has been set up for residents to call if they witness fly-tippers dumping rubbish in the city.

Users of this line can leave details, and council officers will follow up complaints with all information received being treated 'in the strictest confidence'.

Newport City Council deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, sustainability and transport, councillor Ray Truman, said he hoped residents would take on board just how serious the growing problem of fly-tipping is for the city.

“We have set up this 24 hour hotline number so people can report incidents of fly-tipping, which is a blight on our communities," he said.

“We hope residents will help us track down the culprits so we can prosecute them through the courts,” said Councillor Truman.

Cllr Truman also praised the waste enforcement team for their diligence in tracking offenders.

He added: “Despite limited resources officers are doing a sterling job and we hope the public will take on board that they can help the campaign by disposing of waste in the proper manner."

To contact the Pride in Newport Hotline, call 07973 698582.