Council anger at rubbish 'mountain'

12 April 2012

A council has threatened to stop a waste collection service after residents created a 20-tonne rubbish mountain in the street.

The debris was piled up overnight on the Wonford estate in Exeter, Devon, and caused chaos by blocking the road.

Items included fridges, beds, televisions, car engines and sections of garden fence.

Exeter City Council said the rubbish was a serious fire hazard and needed three bin lorries and a specialist cage truck to clear it.

The authority's head of cleansing services, Mike Trim, said the residents' actions were dangerous and the bulky waste collection service would have to be stopped if they continued.

He said: "We have asked people not to put their goods out early and on this occasion there was about 20 tonnes put out the night before.

"There is a huge fire risk as it is unknown items that are being thrown out, which could include gas canisters or highly flammable paint.

"It took most of the day to clear the waste. We found things like car engines, scaffolding, bricks and rubble and a child's trampoline."

The council said items for collection should only be taken to the collection point when council staff are there - between 10am and 4pm.

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