Confidential documents fly-tipped at flats

Paperwork, including tax documents and people's personal data, was among the fly-tipped rubbish

Customers of a rubbish collection firm have expressed their shock after learning their waste ended up outside derelict flats.

Confidential and sensitive paperwork, including tax documents, was left strewn across the ground in Druids Heath, Birmingham.

The BBC tracked down several of those named, who said they had hired Budget Removals and Clearances to dispose of the rubbish properly.

The Tipton-based firm has not responded to the BBC's request for comment, while its website has been taken down. Birmingham City Council said it would investigate any instances of fly-tipping.

One local councillor said the site has been a regular target for fly-tipping, but that the bin strike in the city might have made it even worse.

It comes as the government rolls out plans to crack down on fly-tipping and rogue waste collection companies.

Local resident Tracey Gall said the mess outside the tower block was "disgusting"

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she handed over more than £100 to have rubbish removed.

"Obviously they're just pocketing the money and dumping it," she said.

"It's shocked and upset me - I've never had this happen to me before."

Keith Stansbie, of KS Decorating Services, said he paid the firm £150 to take rubbish away when he was working at a house in Kings Norton.

"I feel duped," he said.

"As far I was concerned everything was above board and going to the right places."

Keith Stansbie, of KS Decorating Services, said he paid £150 for his rubbish to be removed

Figures show there were 1.15 million incidents of fly-tipping nationally in 2023-24, 6% more than in the previous financial year.

The government recently announced plans to tighten up rules around waste collection.

These include changes to the waste carrier, broker and dealer registration system - which Budget Removals and Clearances is listed on - to make it easier to identify rogue operators in the waste sector.

Currently, anyone can get on the register by paying £154, although they have to disclose any environmental offences.

The number of registrations has been increasing, with more than 65,000 registrations in both 2023 and 2024, compared with fewer than 50,000 in 2022 and 20,704 in 2021.

Rubbish found included private letters from HMRC

Rubbish found opposite the tower block in March included an HM Revenue and Customs letter to Kevin Sutcliffe when he used to live in Kings Norton.

The letter showed his tax code and National Insurance number.

Alerted to this by the BBC, Mr Sutcliffe, who now lives in Worcester, said: "That is bad. I'm not happy about that at all.

"There are scammers out there who can use your National Insurance number for all sorts of purposes.

"It's my identity. I can't believe it."

Councillor Julien Pritchard said fly-tipping had been taking place outside the flats in Druids Heath for some time, but added that the bin strike might have intensified it.

"People are coming in vans dumping rubbish on the community and it's just not fair," the Green party councillor said.

"The council needs to get a grip of this."

Councillor Julien Pritchard said fly-tipping had been taking place outside the flats in Druids Heath for some time

Birmingham City Council said it was aware of rogue rubbish collectors charging residents to clear waste and then disposing of it by fly-tipping.

"We are committed to investigating these incidents and prosecuting fly-tippers whenever possible," it said. "We have plenty of lawful options for people to responsibly dispose of waste or unwanted items, such as Household Recycling Centres and our popular free-to-use Mobile Waste Centres."

Majid Mahmood, the council's cabinet member for environment and transport, urged people affected by the bin strike to be cautious if they resort to paying someone to take their rubbish away - and make sure they are properly licensed.

"We would advise any resident to be wary of anyone offering to take their waste away for a small amount of money," he said.

"The current charge to dispose of waste lawfully is around £130 per tonne. If the price is 'too good to be true', then it will almost certainly be unlawfully disposed of."