Residents are being warned about the rise of individuals posing as legitimate waste disposal businesses on social media.
There are concerns that there has been a rise in the number of people offering to remove people’s household waste and then dumping it illegally.
Following advice from DEFRA, all household waste recycling centres in Wales remain closed during the coronavirus lockdown.
Households are also advised against garden and home DIY projects unless excess waste can be stored safely.
Fly-tipping Action Wales have urged people to check with Natural Resources Wales where a waste removal service is legitimate and registered.
Neil Harrison, Programme Manager at Fly-tipping Action Wales, said: “If somebody offers you rubbish removal services through social media, you have a legal duty to check that the person or business is a registered waste carrier before using them.
“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and those committing this crime, particularly during a time of national emergency are placing more pressure on already stretched resources and staff, while putting the waste enforcement officers who investigate and clear up fly-tipped refuse at risk.
“We urge householders to store excess waste at home, or if safe storage isn’t possible, we advise postponing DIY projects that are likely to create high volumes of rubbish until lockdown restrictions are lifted and household waste recycling centres are re-opened.”
Since closing its waste recycling centres on March 24, Caerphilly County Borough Council has redeployed its staff to its kerbside waste collection services.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “Householders are advised to store items they would usually take to the sites safely in the confines of their property or garden until the service is back up and running.
“We have not seen any significant increase in the number of reports of fly-tipping and we continue to log the reports and will allocate resources to investigate and collect these as and when we are able.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take action accordingly.”
Anybody found guilty of fly-tipping can face an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to 12 months.
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