The environmental agency for Scotland has been accused of “failing” after industrial material was found in water close to Broughty Ferry beach only a year after an investigation into fly-tipping was carried out.
Numerous scaffolding planks, polystyrene slabs used for insulation and even a heavy base for site fencing have been found in the Dighty Burn in the last week.
Four large safety cushioning bags have also been dumped in the burn just a year since a similar discovery prompted a complaint to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Doug McLaren of Friends of the Earth Tayside said he was angry and frustrated with the developments.
He and a team of volunteers returned to the Broughty Ferry coastline over weekend to carry out a beach clean, and he voiced his upset with SEPA for not taking greater action on the back of their investigation.
He said: “Although these bags have well known firms’ names printed on them, no action has been taken by any of the regulatory authorities to penalise the culprits from whose sites the bags were allowed to escape.
“I want to see these companies take greater responsibility and not just blame it on young vandals.
“I have been to their site and there is just a flimsy fence which you can pull these bags over. It is not good enough and they need to be held to account.”
SEPA investigated the issue of illegally-discarded safety cushioning bags in the area. Officers visited building sites to discuss the problem and were told that bags had been stolen.
But in the last year, according to Mr McLaren, more than 20 cushioning bags have been found in the burn 10 of which had burst releasing thousands of polystyrene chips.
“It really is a disaster,” he added. “The firms are totally careless and are not up to the job.
“I am frustrated and angry because nothing is getting done. SEPA is failing on its task to protect the environment, albeit they have lots of excuses.”
SEPA said it expects any company using fall bags to ensure they are securely stored when not in use.
Stuart McGowan, unit manager for Angus and Dundee, said: “A SEPA officer walked the Dighty Burn in May to look for signs of any further bags, but did not find evidence of any.
“However, anecdotal evidence from a member of the public suggests that young people may have been using bags as canoes in the burn.
“However, there are currently no sites in the area using soft landing fall bags, and the fact that the bags are all well past their sell by date suggests they have not been removed from a site recently.
“There is a possibility that these bags are part of the original set removed from the site in 2010.”
He said people should report any fly-tipping. SEPA can be contacted on 0800 80 70 60.