Bolton Council is warning residents against using private services offering to take ‘trash away for cash’ during the coronavirus outbreak.
Anyone charging to remove waste must have a licence and people requesting rubbish removals have a legal responsibility to check this is the case.
Cllr Adele Warren, Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “There are unscrupulous people who will take your waste away for cash and then flytip it.
“We know that some residents may be struggling with managing their rubbish during this pandemic but please do not use these services - there is nowhere available for the safe and hygienic disposal of extra waste.
“If your waste ends up being flytipped and it is traced back to you, both you and the people who disposed of it illegally will be liable for prosecution.”
Residents are asked to hang on to bulky waste until household waste and recycling centres reopen - leaving waste outside sites or anywhere else is classed as flytipping and is a criminal offence.
The council is still addressing reports of flytipping where there is a potential risk to public health or safety.
All reports of flytipping will be recorded, and when staffing and safe operating conditions allow, teams will be clearing them up.
Cllr Warren said: “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during these unprecedented times.
“Our teams are doing their best to clean up any flytipped waste but unfortunately we have got fewer staff working due to the coronavirus.
“Also, the need to comply with social distancing guidance and the threat of infection, means it is just not possible at the moment to remove all dumped waste.”