Neighbours fear they are fighting a losing battle against flytippers in one of Britain’s worst rubbish hotspots.
Residents have said they are ‘at war’ and are constantly working to clean countryside areas around their homes which have become blighted by the filth.
Newport, Gwent, has been dubbed the fly-tipping capital of Wales due to its piles of waste but litter-picking locals have been trying to clear the mountains of rubbish themselves.
Last year, illegal rubbish dumping in the Welsh town soared by 6,000 per cent in the last two decades.
Fridges left on laybys, ovens dumped in trees and dead animals have also been found, while locals claim trucks and lorries arrive at night and tip their contents out.
Residents previously described it as a ‘pandemic’, claiming they have been unable to sell their homes after cases skyrocketed.
Zoey Newton-Karbautski Scott is part of a group carrying out weekly clear-ups in the Duffryn part of the city, but says the problem is getting worse.
Zoey said: ‘It is an ongoing problem. They come along and either dump their rubbish or try to burn it. People cannot be bothered. Not many people walk towards the back of the properties in Duffryn so it’s an easy place for them to fly tip.
An abandoned dual carriageway in Coedkernew, Newport, has become notorious for flytipping
Pieces of wood, a bathtub, fridges and even dead animals have been found amongst the piles of waste
Residents are trying to fight back against the fly-tippers with regular litter picks around the town
‘I do not know when it started, but I do know things have got worse since COVID, perhaps because you must log in online and book your rubbish disposal rather than go to a depot.
‘I don’t think we will ever win the war on fly tipping. Someone must know why these people are choosing to dump their rubbish all the time.’
Zoey, part of the Friends of Rabbit Hill group, are hoping to show other neighbours the problem and highlight the issue.
She continued: ‘We need to educate children in schools. The problem is when they become teenagers, they will see other people fly-tipping and then that behaviour carries on into adulthood. People need to understand what they are doing is wrong.’
Residents previously claimed they were unable to sell their properties due to the amount of illegally dumped waste.Â
Resident Ellen Law, 70, claimed that fly-tipping has been going on since the 90s and is set up ‘as a business’.Â
I don’t think there is anywhere like this with this amount of fly-tipping,’ she said.
‘It has been impossible to sell the house because this area is really known now for fly-tipping.’
Rubbish has been dumped near footpaths, on roadsides and in parks all around the town
Locals have said the issue of fly-tipping has led to some not being able to sell their houses
Litter-picking locals say they are constantly battling to clean countryside areas around their homes
Ms Law said that since the ’90s the litter has grown in size, number and variety.
‘To see it happening in real time is shocking,’ she added.
‘This is the area that has become a huge black spot and to watch it grow bigger is heartbreaking.
‘Fly-tipping was an unusual thing and has now become the norm. It is horrible if you think of all the beautiful animals you have here. But it is not all lost if we can intervene.
‘The community has battered – but there is a point if you think about the wildlife surviving this.’
Newport City Council said: ‘There is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping or littering and we condemn those who blight our communities in this way.
‘Newport City Council works closely with our community cleaning groups, like the Friends of Rabbit Hill, and really appreciate the work they do in their neighbourhoods. Our councillors often join their litter picks.
‘It is disappointing that other people do not share the same pride in their communities and litter or fly-tip.’
Welsh Government statistics revealed Newport recorded the highest number of fly-tipping incidents across Wales in 2023 and 2024 with 8,139 cases – 37 per cent more than Cardiff.
The figures revealed there has been a 63 per cent surge in fly-tipping incidents in Newport since 2019.
Newport City Council now empties black bins just once every three weeks whilst household waste centres operate solely through advance booking arrangements.
And the council issued just 124 fines for fly-tipping last year despite investigating 7,300 reports – and only 10 were successfully prosecuted.
A huge pile of car tyres pictured amongst the waste on an abandoned dual carriageway in Newport
Pictured: The remains of a bonfire where fly-tippers have attempted to burn litter
The spokesperson continued: ‘There is no evidence to suggest that the implementation of a booking system at the household waste recycling centre has resulted in an increase in fly-tipping.
‘The booking system has allowed us to extend site opening hours. Queuing times have also reduced, making the site easier and faster to attend and booking form has been streamlined to make it as easy and user-friendly as possible.’
In a statement in October, the Welsh Government said: ‘Fly-tipping is a crime and is never justified under any circumstances.
‘We continue to target those who chose to break the law and pollute our environment.
‘This is why we continue to fund the Fly-tipping Action Wales, a programme hosted by Natural Resources Wales and which supports local authorities with their enforcement activities, monitor fly-tipping levels and help raise awareness.’