A pile of rubbish which has become a dumping ground for fly-tippers has started to attract vermin and seagulls, a local resident has said.
The entrance to the Scouts Hall in Roath is now littered with items such as doors, planks of wood, cupboards, children’s toys and window frames.
CJS News spoke to local resident Tom Hughes, who said it is symbolic of a wider problem in the city at a time when refuse workers are also on strike.
The most-recent industrial action, which is in relation to alleged bullying culture in the council department, has been extended until 22 February, after starting on 28 December.
It comes as Unite members entered their fourteenth week of industrial action since September 2023.
Mr Hughes said: “There have been inconsistencies in waste collection whether that’s been due to industrial action, weather or other factors.”
He added: “It only adds to the seagulls and the rodents and other environmental issues that we are currently seeing in our city.”
Fiona McAllister, a member of the group ‘Keep Grangetown Tidy’ who meet regularly to litter pick in west Cardiff, said litter and fly-tipping is a big issue in Grangetown. She said: “There are particular places that are hotspots for fly tipping .
“There are also issues of fly tipping around trees and at dead end streets. If you find a tree in Grangetown there’s usually a mattress next to it.”
If you find a tree in Grangetown there’s usually a mattress next to it.
Accessing recycle waste centres can also be difficult for those in the city that don’t have cars or rely on getting places on foot and by bike, Ms McAllister said.
She also raised concerns about the waiting times that residents face when trying to dispose of large objects such as mattresses or fridges.
She said: “It can take 3-4 weeks to get an appointment to get something taken away and inevitably only the most conscientious people will wait four weeks when they can’t leave it outside.
“They have to keep it in the house, they might not have room.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “We adopt a zero tolerance approach to anyone caught fly-tipping, and our Waste Enforcement team investigates all reports of fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is an offense that carries a maximum penalty of up to £50,000.”
They also said that recycling centres have remained open and continue to be open for the entire strike period.