Calls for cameras to catch fly-tipping offenders

11 hours ago

Mat TrewernBBC North West

News image — Residents on Warren Street in Salford have called for urgent action

BBC The Warren Street road sign has a sticker on it saying 'No Fly Tipping'. Beneath it are scores of empty cans and bottles. — Residents on Warren Street in Salford have called for urgent action

Fed-up residents have called for cameras to be put up on a street blighted by a "dangerous" fly-tipping.

Mattresses, suitcases, bin bags and hundreds of empty cans and bottles are among the piles of rubbish left on a patch of land on Warren Street in Salford, Greater Manchester.

People living in the area have said they are now at their wit's end and have called for action - with some suggesting cameras could be the answer to catch offenders.

Social housing provider Salix Homes, which owns the land, said it has taken "robust action" against repeated fly-tipping on the site.

A shopping trolley is full of boxes and plastic bags. On the ground around it are piles of rubbish, including blue plastic crates, black bin bags and empty bottles and cans. — Residents fear the rubbish is a danger to public health

"We can smell the rubbish inside the house," said Muhammad Amin Malik, 39, who lives just across from where the waste has been dumped.

He said he was worried about germs and diseases being spread by the build-up of toxic rubbish.

"Waste has been left here for a long time, maybe more than a year," he said.

"But nobody is coming to collect it."

Muhammad Amin Malik is looking into the camera and is wearing a blue rain jacket and black cap. Behind him is piles of rubbish, including a mattress, old wardrobe and black bags. — Muhammad Amin Malik lives directly opposite

Residents believe the rubbish was being left by both fly-tippers and people carelessly throwing away litter after eating and drinking in the area.

The street is close to shops and takeaways on Cheetham Hill Road.

"This is a danger to public health," another resident said.

"People are coming here in vans and cars and dropping bags of rubbish.

"We need cameras putting up and more signs to stop people doing this."

A dirty white mattress is lying on the ground, next to an old wooden wardrobe. They are surrounded by black bin bags and bottles and cans. — Mattresses, wardrobes and suitcases are among the rubbish

Gemma Parlby, executive director at Salix Homes, said the company was aware Warren Street was a "hot-spot for the illegal dumping of waste" and was "repeatedly targeted over a long period."

"We share residents' frustrations about the impact this has on the local community," she said.

"Our environmental team attends the site on a fortnightly basis, and on each visit typically removes the equivalent of two van loads of waste."

The housing provider said another clean up was scheduled for later on Wednesday.

"We are open to working with residents, nearby businesses, and the council to explore additional preventative measures," Parlby added.

There are piles of rubbish on the ground stretching into the distance. It includes, old rolls of wallpaper, an orange traffic cone, old carpet and scores of bottles and cans. — Families living nearby have said the smell is unbearable

In November 2025, Salford Council launched a campaign with charity Keep Britain Tidy to crack down on fly-tipping in the city.

At the time, the authority said there had been 7,610 incidents in the previous year, an increase of 15%.

It said clearing up that illegal waste dumping had cost more than £400,000.

In a new statement, the council said: "Our teams work tirelessly to tackle the problem, but sadly it's our residents and communities who ultimately pay the price."