A QUARRY owner has hit out selfish fly-tippers who are turning East Renfrewshire into an “eyesore.”

Among the areas to be targeted by litter bugs is Pilmuir Quarry, in Newton Mearns, where household fencing, bricks and even a petrol canister were left on a main country road.

There are concerns that the problem has grown worse during the pandemic as some people are “too lazy” to book a slot at one of East Renfrewshire’s recycling centres.

Matthew Darroch, the owner of Pilmuir Quarry, told the Barrhead News: “This site is creating so many problems for me and other people who visit the quarry.

“I’m so passionate about the site – I would say about once a month, people come down and fly tip. 

“We put down logs at the bottom of the side road to stop them doing it, so they were dumping on the main public road.

“There is still paint all over the road because of it – I actually caught fly tippers a few months ago and it turns out they were from Galston. But they did pick it back up.

“This time around, whoever did it, actually moved the logs and dumped their rubbish half way up our private road – there were dozens of nappies, letters and household rubbish.”

Earlier this year, the Barrhead News told how fly-tippers dumped more than 30 tyres at the side of a grassy verge which lines Fereneze Road, with some of them spilling on to the tarmac.

And household waste, bricks and even a lawnmower were ditched at Barrhead’s Gateside.

Those caught illegally dumping rubbish are committing a criminal offence and risk being fined up to £10,000. 

They could also face up to six months in prison.

A spokesperson for East Renfrewshire Council, said: “Fly tipping is a blight on our community and we’d encourage residents to report any incidents via our website or by calling our free, confidential Ring and Report hotline on 0800 013 0076.”