Two men set themselves up in the waste disposal business but simply dumped huge quantities of rubbish in woodlands and fields, a court has heard.
Luke Samuel Davies and Ronnie Junior Jones advertised their services on social media, taking hundreds of pounds from customers and then fly-tipped the materials at sites across the Rhondda valleys.
On one occasion they dumped 150 black bags on rubbish near woodlands and on another simply set fire to the waste at a remote location.
A judge told the pair they had engaged in "stupid, irresponsible behaviour just to make a quick buck" and he said he hoped as part of their community punishment they would be given black bags and sent out to pick litter.
Swansea Crown Court heard the offences all took place between April and August 2017 after Davies and Jones advertised themselves on Facebook .
Thomas Roberts, prosecuting, said the activities of the pair resulted in "significant quantities of waste being dumped at various remote locations in Rhondda".
The waste they dumped ranged from a large quantity of empty beer cans from the Ivor Hale hotel in Llwnypia through to builders' rubble, cardboard, and household rubbish.
The barrister said one incident involved a number of sites of waste dumping along a country lane and it seemed the defendants had simply driven along the road in their van tossing out rubbish as they went.
Another involved a total of 150 black bags being dumped and another saw waste being dumped and then set on fire.
Davies, 27, formerly of Brithweunydd Road in Porth but now said to be "sofa surfing", admitted 11 waste offences and 29-year-old Jones, of Redfield Street, Ystrad , admitted three waste offences.
Andrew Kendall, for Davies, said his client was keen to find work and to "better himself".
Nick Gedge, for Jones, said while the two defendants had operated together it was accepted his client had played a lesser role in the enterprise.
Judge Peter Heywood said the people of Wales were "blessed" to live in such a beautiful country but he said fly-tipping and littering meant "we are becoming a filthy nation".
He told the defendants they had engaged in "stupid, irresponsible behaviour just to make a quick buck" and had given "no consideration" to the environment.
Each man was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months and was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work. They must each also pay a £500 contribution towards the cost of cleaning up the mess they made.
The judge said he hoped the probation service would be able to set the men to work as litter pickers in the community as they worked their unpaid hours.
