POWYS residents are being warned they face fines and prosecution for dumping their excess Christmas waste at community recycling facilities.

There is always a surplus of rubbish to dispose of in the wake of the festive season, like spent wrapping paper and food waste and packaging, but Powys Recycles are warning irresponsible residents that they will be dealt with if caught fly-tipping – like the disturbing image of this overloaded site in Builth Wells, in the Co-op car park, on Wednesday.

Powys Recycles – the county council’s waste and recycling service, tweeted: “We understand that we all have extra waste over the festive period but please use your community recycling sites responsibly.

“Our already stretched teams are trying to empty the banks as often as possible, but excessive contamination and fly-tipping of rubbish is making their jobs very difficult and time consuming. If the sites are full, please return with your recycling another time, or take to one of the household waste recycling centres.

“People caught dumping waste can expect to receive a fixed penalty notice or face prosecution.”

Powys County Council has ensured changes to the normal kerbside collections for recycling and waste have been kept to a minimum this Christmas, with only collections for Christmas Day and New Year's Day (Friday) rearranged for another day.

These Friday collections were moved to Sunday, December 27, while the New Year’s Day collection will move to Saturday, January 2. All other collection days will remain the same.

For more information visit the council’s website at https://en.powys.gov.uk/recycle.