The Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed the top ten worst excuses people give for fly-tipping and they range from the merely unbelievable to the downright ridiculous.
As well as spending £50m a year clearing up waste that has been dumped, councils have to listen to a wide array of poor excuses from people trying to avoid penalties.
LGA environment spokesman Cllr Peter Box said: ‘The excuses some fly-tippers give when caught are laughable but for councils this issue is deadly serious.
‘Councils are being forced to spend many millions on clearing up fly-tipping and taking enforcement action. At a time when councils have experienced substantial budget reductions, this is money which is being diverted from vital frontline services like caring for the elderly, and filling the nation's potholes.’
‘Councils have a zero tolerance approach to fly-tipping and excuses like these are given short shrift,’ he added.
The top 10 list of fly-tippers' excuses:
1. I paid a man with a van to take it
2. ‘I thought the green waste in the back of the van was on fire so I tipped it out, after I realised it wasn't on fire I couldn't put it back in the van as I had to collect my son from school!’
3. I met a man at the ‘dump' who said he wanted it – can't think why he then dumped it rather than taking it back to the ‘dump…
4. I dropped my phone and there was so much rubbish in the car that I could hardly find it – I cleared the rubbish out so I could find the phone…
5. My van was untidy and I needed to give my boss a lift so I cleared the rubbish out because I know he doesn't like the van untidy…
6. The waste fell off the back of my vehicle as I drove along …
7. I saw other fly-tipped waste and thought the area was a recycling centre …
8. It was my van, but I had lent it to this other man who is now not answering my calls… I think his name is Jim…
9. I sold my vehicle to some people who were quite intimidating actually…
10. I know the person who works on the tip and they don't like me, so when I saw them working, I drove on…
