Efforts will be stepped up to stop rogue dumpers blighting the Angus countryside.
A series of meetings are to be held in a bid to tackle the problem, following a series of high-profile incidents in Angus.
Environmentalists have called for Angus Council to take a tough stance and want a multi-agency strategy put in place to tackle the increased scourge of dumping.
It comes just weeks after it emerged not a single person has been reported to Police Scotland in the past two years over alleged fly-tipping from more than 5,000 incidents in the Angus or Dundee City council areas.
Recent incidents in Angus include a huge pile of rubbish including children’s toys, a double bed and discarded underwear discovered at Letham Grange, near Arbroath.
Rubbish was also dumped at the beach at Auchmithie, while the A928 at Lumley Den was also struck by fly-tipping, which included several bags of household rubbish, car parts and asbestos.
Wendy Murray from Angus Clean Environments (ACE) said: “I think I speak on behalf of many people in Angus when I say that ACE is deeply concerned and frustrated that fly-tipping appears to be on the increase in the county.
“Everywhere from the middle of our towns to some of our most-loved beauty spots are being targeted by criminals with apparent impunity.
“ACE is of the view that there should be a requirement for local authorities and the police to work collaboratively across and between departments to maximise the use of resources and bring those responsible for fly-tipping to justice.
“It is imperative that Angus Council takes a strong lead in developing a multi-agency strategy to address the issue which waste management departments can not address in isolation.”
She said it is hoped the new circular economy bill will introduce new powers enabling police to seize vehicles from those involved in fly-tipping.
Arbroath East and Lunan Conservative councillor Derek Wann has been working with several groups including Ralph Coutts of the St Vigeans Conservation Network.
“Fly-tipping and general littering needs to be stopped,” he said.
“I have written to our officers and requested meetings to discuss how we communicate again with businesses and get the message out to the minority of the public that just throw their litter away.
“There are a few initiatives on-going throughout Angus which is very welcome.
“One for example is the work with Arbroath Football Club on a Saturday and the many beach cleans along with initiatives from our pupils in schools who help clean up their areas.
“I have arranged to meet a representative from the NFU to discuss fly-tipping on farmland to see how we can assist.
“We need the help of the whole community to tackle this problem.”
An Angus Council spokesman urged anyone who sees incidents of fly-tipping to report them by calling 03452 777 778 or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
He said: “Enquiries rely upon information and evidence.
“If you see evidence of fly-tipping, please take a note of what you have seen – that can be the location and a description of what has been dumped.
“If you actually saw fly-tipping as it happened, then please try to make a note of the vehicle involved and, if possible its registration number.
“We investigate and dispose of fly-tipping on council ground.
“Where items are fly-tipped on private ground we carry out enquiries to try to find the culprits, but the landowner is responsible for clearing away the fly-tipping.
“We can issue fixed penalty notices of £200 for fly-tipping and courts can impose a penalty of up to £40,000.”
