Cardiff council has admitted it was behind a four-tonne pile of rubbish dumped outside Cardiff City Hall
The local authority said it was highlighting a new campaign to remind residents that they are responsible of disposing of their waste correctly, and face steep fines if waste is fly-tipped by unregistered waste carriers.
The apparent fly-tipping sparked a wave of social media enquiries wondering where the waste came from and how it could have been allowed to be dumped in front of one of Cardiff's most iconic buildings.
But the council later revealed it was to highlight their Beware of the Waste Cowboys campaign.
Councillor Michael Michael, who is in charge of recycling and the environment for the council, said: "We are currently collecting 20 tonnes of fly-tipped material across the city per week - that's the size of three Tyrannosaurus Rex - and it is costing the tax payer £150,000 a year in clean up services.
"In all honesty there is no excuse for fly-tipping. Cardiff Council offers a wide range of services to help residents and businesses to dispose of their waste correctly."
He added that residents have a duty of care of ensure their waste is disposed of correctly.
"If we find any evidence among fly-tipped material which leads back to a resident then unfortunately they face being fined £400 for it. If we locate the trader that dumped it then they could be fined £400."
Since November, the council has handed out 171 fixed penalty notices and has promised to crackdown on those responsible.
But local people feel that there is not enough help with getting rid of waste.
One said: "The councils have shut the local community recycling depot and charge too much to have rubbish taken away."
