FLY tipping and the illegal disposal of waste is becoming a major issue in Cumnock and Doon Valley.

The clear up cost to local authorities is almost £9m each year and undermines legitimate waste businesses, as illegal operators under undercut those operating within the law.

Two dedicated hit squads from Outdoor Services are not hitting the roads five days a week, patrolling rural roads and streets throughout East Ayrshire and responding to reports of dumped waste from our residents.

They collect dumped items from our rural roads and urban areas, filling their van up to three times a day with waste.

The team also photographs all fly tipping, reporting directly to Zero Waste Scotland via a mobile device to ensure that an accurate picture is being created nationally.

Cllr McMahon went out on patrol with one of the teams recently collecting two leather sofas that had been dumped on the back road out of Logan.

The van was full to bursting by lunchtime with bags of waste and even a gutted deer carcass that had been dumped at the side of the road.

The hit squad teams also work closely with the CEU who investigate the dumped waste and issue fixed penalty notices of £200 to anyone identified. Following a detailed investigation this week, a fixed penalty notice was issued to an individual who had dumped waste at Laigh Milton Mill near Kilmarnock.

The CEU also carry out regular joint patrols with colleagues from Police Scotland targeting environmental crimes, including dog fouling and fly tipping, issuing fixed penalty notices and providing guidance to our communities.