Fed up with fly tipping, lady places up blunt 6-word signal – ‘somebody wanted to do one thing’

A fuming Glasgow resident fed up with worsening fly-tipping in her neighbourhood has paid to print blunt, funny signs to shame litterers and push the council to act

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A woman fed up with fly-tipping has put up funny signs saying: “It was f****** one of yas”. Chloe McFarland, 33, is one of many residents who are “angry and up in arms” as illegal dumping is steadily worsening in her area.

In a bid to make a difference, Chloe has approach the situation with humour. Using her own money, Chloe has printed out funny and creative signs to ask people not to litter or fly-tip.

Quoting the infamous Scottish YouTube video which features two young girls singing Cher Lloyd, one of the signs reads: “It was f****** one of yas, bin it”. While another says “s****bag if ya dinnae bin it” and a third reads “beware flytippers”.

One of the signs is a reference to an infamous Scottish YouTube video which features two young girls singing Cher Lloyd. Chloe from Athletes’ Village in Glasgow is now campaigning to stop the illegal dumping happening in Dalmarnock area, particularly on Sunnybank Street, where toilets and mattresses have been discarded.

“I wanted to create signs that are more human and perhaps relatable,” Chloe said. She continued: “They are meant to be funny and crass, and maybe that’s why the council’s messaging has been ignored.

“Glasgow is good at coming together, and so if we approach these issues in a more human way that is digestible and fun, it could perhaps put a stop to it.” Speaking on her hopes for the campaign, Chloe said: “Someone needed to do something, and I hope this makes a difference and is something that becomes bigger than me.

“I hope the council takes notice, and if it works, it can be used across the city.” It follows Chloe’s efforts to hold litter-picking sessions with residents over the last three years.

A group of them do it annually, and there is always a good turnout, Chloe said. However, despite the positive response from residents, it hasn’t made a difference in stopping the problems of litter in the area. She said: “People dump on the street because it lacks visibility.

“It’s really embarrassing. I want my friends to shut their eyes when we drive to my house because I don’t want them to think that Glasgow is horrible.

“It’s a shame. Families come to the area for a lovely walk as it is near the banks of the Clyde, and they just end up walking through a wasteland.

“There is also a school near Sunnybank Street. Kids shouldn’t have to walk through that and have fly-tipping become normalised.

“That should never be the case.” Chloe went on to say that there is also a large amount of litter in the area, particularly near a motorway slip road by her home.

She added: “We need to stop the littering in Glasgow. It has become so bad, and it is a huge problem for people here.”

Residents are reacting positively to Chloe’s current anti-litter campaign, with many stopping to take pictures of the signs. Chloe said: “The signs have been received well so far.

“I have seen people taking pictures of them, and I have handed out stickers for people during our litter-pick walks, which they seem to like.” A crowdfunder has been set up on GoFundMe for anyone who wishes to donate money for the continued printing of the stickers.

If you wish to donate, you can visit Donate to Glasgow’s anti-litter campaign, organized by Chloe Rayner. Fly-tipping is increasingly seen as a major UK problem, driven by rising disposal costs, organised waste crime and limited enforcement.

Government figures show councils in England dealt with 1.26 million incidents in 2024/25, a 9% rise on the previous year. Analysts say higher landfill taxes and fees can push households and firms to dump waste illegally, while “rogue traders” and so-called “man-and-van” operators, estimated to be linked to around 40% of cases, may charge customers for collection but then tip rubbish in rural areas or lay-bys to maximise profit.

Restrictions such as reduced bin collections, charges for bulky waste and complicated rules at household recycling centres are also cited as discouraging proper disposal. Additionally, critics argue penalties often fail to deter offenders, with prosecution rates low and some fines cheaper than disposing of waste legally.

The impact is costly and far-reaching. Councils in England spent £19.3 million in 2024/25 clearing large-scale incidents, with warnings about environmental harm where dumped waste includes hazardous materials such as asbestos, chemicals and oils, as well as public health risks from vermin and sharp or toxic items.

Rural communities can be hit particularly hard, as landowners, including farmers. may be left responsible for clearing rubbish dumped on their land, with clean-up bills for major sites reported to run from £10,000 to £500,000. Household waste remains the most common material, accounting for 62% of incidents, with tens of thousands of cases involving white goods such as fridges and washing machines (around 60,000) and construction debris like rubble and plasterboard (around 70,000).

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