Calpe makes tipping point

CALPE town hall is looking to prune back the problem of unsightly fly-tipping on the streets of its urbanisations using the local police.

The town has historically had a problem with illicit dumping but after the fire at the Benissa waste centre, the amount of garden waste being tipped has soared.

Calpe’s own tip for green waste was closed after being opened on protected land on the Olta mountainside, professional gardeners were asked to use the site in neighbouring instead.

However, when it was closed because of the fire, people were asked to go to Denia, at least an hour-and-a-half round trip.

Councillor Carole Saunders explained: “We are having an awful lot of trouble with garden waste being dumped. The dump at Benissa is still burning and Calpe does not have a site for this refuse.

“Everyone is told to go to Denia, which is an hour-and-ahalf out of someone’s day by any reckoning.

“And so people are just dumping garden waste in the urbanisations, all over the place. The town hall is paying for two extra lorries to pick it up but it’s not making much difference.”

Professional gardeners and landscapers have been blamed for the growing problem. “Our local amateur gardeners have always left cuttings by the bins – now it is so much it’s all over the road,” added the councillor.

She appealed for professionals to hire containers for the rubbish but admitted it meant for a more expensive quote to clients.

“However, the town hall has to find the money to clear it up – we really need our local police to get on the case.”