Two people have been identified and could face fines after a washing machine and other bulky waste were dumped beside rubbish bins on a street in Arrecife, Lanzarote.

Local Police officers traced the pair following a tip-off from a resident who witnessed the incident in Calle Tajaraste and recorded what was happening on their phone.

The witness passed the footage to the council’s specialist environmental and waste police unit, along with the approximate time the items were abandoned.

There were no CCTV cameras directly covering the spot where the waste was dumped. However, officers examined footage from council cameras elsewhere in the surrounding area and used the information provided by the witness to identify the vehicle used to transport the items.

Their investigation eventually led them to two Arrecife residents believed to be responsible. Both will now be reported for breaching the municipality’s street cleaning and sustainability regulations and could face financial penalties.

Jacobo Lemes, who is the Arrecife councillor responsible for street cleaning, praised the resident whose footage helped officers with the investigation, saying their cooperation had been crucial in identifying those involved.

He also highlighted the work of the specialist police unit, pointing out that illegal dumping investigations are not always straightforward when CCTV cameras are not positioned at the scene.

The council is reminding residents that unwanted furniture, household appliances and other bulky items must not be left on public streets or beside communal rubbish bins.

Instead, residents should use the authorised collection and disposal services provided for bulky household waste. The council has also encouraged people to report illegal dumping and provide photographs, videos or other information that could help identify those responsible.