Council leaders have called on manufacturers and retailers to play their part in combating the growing problem of fly-tipping.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said firms should provide more ‘take back’ services allowing customers to deposit old items when they buy new goods.
It also wants businesses to contribute to the £45m a year cost of clearing up fly-tipped waste.
Latest figures show fly-tipping was up by 20% in 2013-14 with 850,000 incidents recorded by local authorities.
The LGA said councils, who spend £20m a year tackling fly-tippers, should be able to recoup all of their prosecution court costs.
‘Fly-tipping is at a record level and increasingly the country’s loveliest beauty spots and villages are being scarred and disfigured,’ said LGA environment spokesman Cllr Peter Box.
‘This blight on our most beautiful countryside, towns and cities is costing councils a fortune when they have already seen significant budget reductions.
‘Mattresses and furniture are some of the most fly-tipped items and in these unprecedented circumstances it is only fair that the manufacturers do more to help. It is extremely difficult and costly to recycle mattresses, so most of them end up in landfill sites, which are already under severe pressure.
‘Manufacturers should show leadership on this issue and provide more “bring back” services and contribute towards the cost of councils' clear-ups, on a voluntary basis.’
