MALDON District Council have had to deal with fly-tipping waste at an average of once a day, figures show.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 379 fly-tipping incidents were reported to the district 2019-20

Dumped waste was found on Maldon's roads and pavements 325 times accounting for 86 per cent of incidents.

Across Maldon, small van loads of waste were dumped illegally on 103 occasions – 27 per cent of all reports.

A further 17 incidents saw fly-tippers discard enough rubbish to fill a tipper lorry each, costing the council £4,500 to clear.

There were also four incidents which required multiple loads to clear, at a cost of £1,600.

Maldon District Council took action over 303 fly-tipping offences in 2019-20.

The authority undertook 272 investigations, wrote 21 warning letters and issued six fixed penalty notices.

In the past few weeks, an old mattress was discovered propped up against the Salvation Army charity shop in Maldon town.

Braintree and Witham Times: Mattress propped up outside Salvation Army charity shop. Photo - Maldon District CouncilMattress propped up outside Salvation Army charity shop. Photo - Maldon District Council

Maldon District Council is investigating this incident including reviewing nearby CCTV.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the council at maldon.gov.uk/report using reference number 21/00571/CPFTR.

Essex is Green, a collaboration between Essex County Council and The Essex Climate Action Commission, highlighted the problem of people dumping items outside charity shops.

A spokesman said: “When these hard-working charities have to pay for these items to be disposed of safely, legally and professionally, it takes valuable money and resources away from their other activities.

“We are aware that our friends and colleagues at Essex recycling centres are working very hard at the moment to get their operations back on track as there have been some issues lately due to the pandemic, but please remember that this is not an acceptable alternative in the vast majority of circumstances.”