Two fridges, a microwave and carpets were among household items fly-tipped in Broughton-in-Furness.
South Lakeland District Council is appealing for information after the items, which also included drawers, were dumped at the town’s recycling bank site on Foxfield Road last week.
Council officers are investigating several similar incidents at the location, and they are appealing to anyone who may recognise the items to come forward.
They are hoping the magnets on the fridge doors may help to jog people’s memories, including one that appears to be from a holiday in Bulgaria.
The council’s locality officer Phil Metcalfe said: “Both fridges have distinctive fridge magnets on and seem to have been left outside for some time before being dumped.
“Are these items familiar? Did anyone see these items being unloaded from a vehicle at this site? Please help us to find out who is responsible.”
Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence.
The maximum penalty that can be imposed by the courts is a £50,000 fine and up to five years in prison for the most serious offences.
Householders may not realise that they also have a legal duty of care to ensure that waste is only removed from their property by registered waste carriers.
If waste from your home is found to have been fly-tipped, you could be prosecuted and run the risk of a £5,000 fine and a criminal record.
Councillor Philip Dixon, portfolio holder for customer and locality services, said: “Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime.
“As well as the cost to the environment, the financial cost of clearance, disposal and investigation is ultimately borne by the Council Tax payers of the district. We investigate every case of fly-tipping reported and, if appropriate, action will be taken.
“This can range from fixed penalty notices and warning letters being issued to prosecutions, potentially significant fines and even custodial sentences.”
Anyone with information is urged to email [email protected]
