A RAPID enforcement team which has been set up to tackle fly-tipping across Sandwell has issued eight £400 fines in just five weeks.

Among the fixed penalty notices issued by the council's response team - which was only set up a month ago - were to an address in Gresham Road, Oldbury and another in Short Street, Rowley Regis.

In seven of the cases, black bags containing household or trade waste were found dumped in streets containing documents that meant the owner of the waste could be traced, while in another incident, household items including a mattress, white goods and carpet had been dumped.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “This is a brilliant start for our rapid response team, issuing eight £400 fines in its first five weeks.

“We really want to get the message out there that fly-tipping is unacceptable and that fly-tippers will be fined.

"Fly-tipping is not only anti-social and unsightly. It's also a financial burden on the council taxpayer as the council is left with the cost of dealing with fly-tipped waste at more than £300,000 a year.

“In Sandwell, we still have weekly bin collections, the tip is open seven days a week and we offer a bulky waste collection service – there really is no excuse for dumping rubbish on our streets.”

Residents can report fly-tipping online at www.sandwell.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling 0121 368 1177.

The new team has been put together to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to fly-tipping as well as provide information and advice to local residents on how to appropriately dispose of their waste.