Fly tippers blighting recycling bank sites in Torfaen are costing taxpayers nearly £30,000 a year in clean up costs.
Torfaen Council say ten tonnes of rubbish is being dumped on the ground every month at the recycling bank sites.
Items fly tipped include electrical goods, furniture, building rubble and even a garden shed
Clean up costs are around £2,400 a month.
Abuse including arson and fly tipping also meant that banks for cardboard were removed from several sites.
All of this has prompted the local authority to hold awareness days at some of the worst affected areas from next week.
It is also continuing with its covert camera operation which has seen 18 fixed penalty notices issued to residents and business who dumped rubbish at the sites.
Christina Harrhy, Head of Technical Services for the Council, said there was wide spread abuse despite frequent emptying of banks and regular cleaning of the 19 sites.
"The majority of residents and businesses in Torfaen do a fantastic job and thanks to their efforts we are one the best performing recycling authorities in Wales," she said.
"Sadly, a minority of people are abusing the sites which has meant that some facilities have already been withdrawn. We make every effort to get banks emptied regularly and clean sites twice a week. We also welcome calls from the public if banks are full.
"Despite this people are still just dumping rubbish on the ground. We hope that awareness days and covert operations will send out a message of appropriate use and that abuse will not be tolerated."
Awareness days will be held between 11am and 3pm at Riflemans Car Park, Blaenavon, on July 13 and 20; Cwmbran Stadium on July 15 and 22 and Fairwater Shops on July 17 and 24.
As well as handing out information at each event, officers will also be giving away compost bins to the first 30 Torfaen residents who provide proof of address.
For more information about recycling visit the Rubbish, Waste and Recycling| area of the website. To report problems with recycling banks contact 01495 762200.