New figures have revealed the increase in fly-tipping across Aberdeenshire during lockdown.
Fridges, mattresses, washing machines, TVs, and asbestos are among the hundreds of items to have been discarded across the north-east this year.
There have been 605 reports of waste dumped illegally since March 23, when the stay-at-home measures were introduced.
The total for 2020, up to August 4, is 803 compared to 712 in 2019 and 722 in 2018.
Recycling centres in Aberdeenshire were closed to the public during lockdown but were re-opened on an appointment-only basis on June 1.
However, this appears to have made little difference – with hundreds of incidents reported to the council since then.
Reports of illegal dumping continued to surge after lockdown restrictions started to ease, with 154 recorded in June and 158 in July.
Figures stretching back to 2018 show that Peterhead has the highest number of incidents in the region with 276 reports.
It is followed by Fraserburgh with 193, and Inverurie with 165 cases.
In Stonehaven there were 111 reports of fly-tipping in the same period, followed by Ellon with 83 cases.
The figures were released following a Freedom of Information request by Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid.
Mr Duguid was “very disapointed” to see a total of 276 of the incidents this year – more than a third – relate to towns and villages in his constituency.
He said: “There is no excuse for dumping waste like this. Those responsible show no respect for our countryside and no remorse for the misery they cause.
“Their irresponsible and illegal behaviour is an unfair burden on the taxpayer, as it is the council that is usually left to clear up their mess.
“In other cases, farmers and landowners are left with hefty bills.”
Aberdeenshire Council last night revealed no-one has been prosecuted for fly-tipping in 2020 to date, which Mr Duguid described as being “very concerning”.
Mr Duguid said: “I know Covid-19 has led to huge backlogs in the courts, but people should not be allowed to get away with this.”
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said the number of problems reported this month has declined, with the number of incidents reported in August being close to those reported during the same period in the previous two years.
She added: “However, there is no excuse for fly-tipping, and two offenders have already been served with a £200 fixed penalty notice in recent months.”
