TORFAEN council is considering fully re-opening its household waste and recycling centre amid concerns over an increase in fly-tipping.

The recycling centre at New Inn is currently open with a booking system in place and the council says there are lots of spaces for residents to book.

But council chiefs are considering scrapping the booking system all together, a meeting of Torfaen council’s cross-cutting resources and business overview scrutiny committee heard on Tuesday.

A council report shows fly-tipping incidents in Torfaen are at a five-year high, with 1,046 incidents reported last year, up from 934.

The closure of the tip last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic is believed to have contributed to the increase.

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At the scrutiny meeting, Cllr Janet Jones said that since the pandemic there has been “a vast increase” in fly-tipping and that she is reporting incidents in her ward of Blaenavon two to three times a week.

“It’s really destroying the countryside and the environment which we are proud of,” she said.

“I am at a loss to see what else we can do.”

Rachel Jowitt, the council’s chief officer for neighbourhoods, planning and public protection, said the authority is considering what further preventative measures it can take to tackle fly-tipping.

Ms Jowitt said a review is being carried out to consider removing the booking system at the tip “all together now that we are at alert level zero”.

She said: “[We are] looking at opening the HWRC fully because we think that was definitely a cause last summer when it was closed, people not having enough capacity to get rid of their waste.

“That should not be an issue now because we have lots of spaces on the booking system for the HWRC.”

Cllr Stuart Evans welcomed news the council was considering fully re-opening the recycling centre.

“There’s no doubt about it, fly-tipping has increased since we have had the permit scheme in place,” he said.

Vans and trailers visiting the tip must have a permit which costs £5.

Cllr Lynda Clarkson raised concerns over business waste being dumped by people from neighbouring authorities such as Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Newport.

Cllr Elizabeth Haynes called for “a targeted approach” to enforcement to clamp down on offenders.