Redbridge Council’s latest crack down on people dumping their trash on the borough’s streets has led to hefty fines for 19 residents.

The grime crime offenders were identified as the culprits responsible for fly-tips discovered during a recent council-led operation.

All 19 were stung with fines totalling £7000 between them, after piles of dumped rubbish were traced back to them by council enforcement officers trawling through the mountains of mess looking for evidence.

The two-day operation saw council enforcement officers investigate and clear five tonnes of rubbish, from 91 fly-tips across the east and south of the borough, over the weekend of June 5.

Among the rubbish discovered discarded on the streets was a mop and bucket, broken furniture, garden waste, a sofa and clothing.

Cllr Jo Blackman, cabinet member for environment and civic pride, said: “Dumping rubbish and destroying our environment is a criminal offence and we will not tolerate it. Our uniformed Enforcement Officers and Street Cleansing Team are working hard to clear up rubbish and catch those responsible.

“All of our residents deserve to live in a clean and safe environment. This is especially important now in the face of this pandemic. It is up to all of us to keep our streets clean, and report those we see fly-tipping. We won’t think twice about bringing down the full weight of the law to prosecute those caught making a mess of our borough.”