Call to action on Leeds’s bin yards

Leeds City Council says the majority of the city’s bin yards are privately owned by those living in neighbouring properties, but there is an expectation that the council will repeatedly clear up those that become dumping grounds.

With residents and businesses in some areas becoming increasingly concerned about the impact on their community and reputation, the council hopes to work with people so they can tackle persistently problematic bin yards themselves.

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Councillor Mark Dobson, executive member for environmental protection and community safety, said: “We want to have a constructive discussion with residents, tenants and landlords about what we as a council can do to help them fulfil their responsibilities in helping to keep streets and communities clean.

“Our resources aren’t infinite and we can’t continually clear up after others especially when they have a role to play.

“Equally, we can’t stand by and allow flytipping but we need people to come forward with information so we can catch the perpetrators.”

The council says environmental action officers are currently dealing with a case in Armley, where 16 different people are responsible for the upkeep of a private bin yard.

Skips have been provided to help clear out the mess, with the council having already cleared the bin yard on numerous occasions. In some cases, legal notices have had to be served to enforce action.

The bin yard is also an easy target for flytippers and environmental action officers are seeking residents who will provide official witness statements so the flytippers can be traced and prosecuted.