FLY-TIPPING incidents in Blaenau Gwent dropped by almost a half in the past year, with annual clear-up costs falling from £31,000 to £14,000.

The Assembly-backed operation Fly-Tipping Action Wales was launched last year, and while it has had a positive effect figures show Gwent's five local authorities still dealt with 7,210 incidents of fly-tipping last year, which cost £355,152 to clear.

Fly-tipping offences in Blaenau Gwent dropped from 381 in 2008/09 to 230 in 2009/10, 837 to 659 in Monmouthshire, Torfaen's incidents fell from 795 to 746 and Caerphilly's fell from 2,195 to 1,560.

Only Newport saw a rise with reported incidents up from 3,455 in 2008/09 to 4,015 in 2009/10.

Fly-Tipping Action Wales was launched in January 2010 and its co-ordinator Gary Inight said the initiative has allowed local authorities to collate data, install more CCTV, share ideas and chase more prosecutions.

He said: "Incidents have gone down in many areas. But, Newport faces particular problems, especially on the boundary with Cardiff around the Wentloog Levels.

They are making inroads, but this area is more prone to fly-tipping and hard to monitor."

Blaenau Gwent environmental officer Andrew Long said the authority now spends around £40,000 a year tackling the fly-tipping with two full-time officers, three cameras, six day operations a year and vehicle and waste carrier checks.

The worst affected areas are isolated places around the mountain sides, away from residential properties, such as industrial estates in the north of Ebbw Vale.

Mr Long said: "Covert filming has been very successful, but itÕs still a big problem. Around 65 percent of fly-tipped waste is household, such as black bags, full kitchens, beds, furniture and carpets.

"Then, business waste and demolition waste that builders don't want to pay the proper disposal costs for."

He urged people to check disposal companies are getting rid of their waste properly.

To find out how you can report fly-tipping, visit flytippingactionwales.org