A significant fly-tipping incident in Grays has been cleared following an exceptional response from Thurrock Council’s Clean & Green Team.
Last week, despite the land being privately owned, council officers attended the site outside of normal working hours to ensure the waste was removed promptly, preventing further environmental damage and restoring the area for the local community.
The operation involved the removal of a substantial quantity of illegally dumped waste, with crews working efficiently to clear the site and dispose of the material safely.
The council is continuing to investigate the incident as evidence was collected relating to the potential offenders. A specialist contractor was also called to remove the remaining material due to concerns about its content.
Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: “I am incredibly proud of our Clean & Green Team for their outstanding response to such a major fly-tip. Although this was on private land, the team still responded outside of normal working hours, which was an exception due to the significant impact on the local area.
"Civic pride and making sure we have a borough that we are all proud to be part of, is at the heart of what we are doing here in Thurrock. This clearance shows the pride our teams have in their work and the effort they put into their jobs to make sure our towns are clean and tidy.
“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence that blights communities and places an unnecessary financial burden on public services. We are cracking down on everyone involved in such illegal activities as we all have a legal duty when disposing of waste. I urge residents to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly. Anyone arranging for rubbish to be removed should always check that the person collecting it is a registered waste carrier."
For more information about safe and secure waste removal services, visit: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling.
