Residents of a seaside Essex town have been left stunned after a fly-tipper dressed in a full Tyrannosaurus Rex costume was filmed illegally dumping rubbish under the cover of darkness.
The Prehistoric Perpetrator
CCTV footage captured the extraordinary scene at the junction of Fairfax Drive and Electric Avenue in Southend. The individual, clad in a purple dinosaur outfit, can be seen waddling across the road with two bin bags. After depositing the waste beside two wheelie bins, the perpetrator swung around a lamppost and vanished into the night.
The local council has now launched an investigation to unmask the culprit. It is believed the elaborate disguise was a deliberate tactic to evade seafront cameras installed by Southend-on-Sea City Council in 2023 following a spate of fly-tipping. The costume successfully helped the person avoid an on-the-spot £400 fine, the standard penalty for dumping rubbish in a public space in the town.
Residents React to 'Barney's' Mischief
A local who shared the video online expressed their disbelief, stating: 'I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the night before bin day too. Clearly, he is struggling with the new bin rules.' Another resident, awoken by the commotion, quipped: 'Well, Barney the Dinosaur was clearly up to some mischief last night.'
These comments point directly to the simmering tension in the community regarding recent changes to waste collection. The incident occurred against a backdrop of significant controversy over Southend's new refuse system.
Underlying Cause: The 'Bin City' Backlash
In October of this year, the council rolled out tens of thousands of wheelie bins across the Essex holiday destination, replacing the previous sack-based system. The move, first agreed in 2023 under the then Conservative-led council, introduced fortnightly collections and a requirement for households to manage multiple bins.
The transition has been far from smooth. Many locals have branded the new system 'confusing' and 'crazy', complaining that their streets and gardens are now overrun with plastic containers. Elderly residents have been particularly baffled by a new council app designed to remind them which bin to put out on which day.
A petition was launched against the wheelie bin roll-out, with the resident behind it warning that blocking pavements with the bulky bins is 'an accident waiting to happen'. Others have warned the seaside resort is being turned into a 'Bin City'.
Southend-on-Sea City Council stated that all households have received wheelie bins, except for those still being assessed for suitability. Households with no storage space for at least three bins can continue using sacks.
Defending the policy, Council Leader Councillor Daniel Cowan said: 'This new service makes recycling easier for residents and helps keep our streets cleaner with waste kept in bins, not sacks that wildlife and vermin can rip open.' However, the appearance of a dinosaur-clad fly-tipper suggests not everyone is finding the new rules easy to swallow.
