MORE piles of refuse have been left dumped in the street - apparently by students vacating their homes.

The problems have been revealed by Press reader Bryan Hopson, who photographed bags and bags of rubbish discarded in Horner Street and Pembroke Street, Clifton, near York St John University, over the weekend.

He sent the pictures to the newspaper after reading about items left outside a property in the Lawrence Street area near the University of York, last week.

Neighbourhood watch coordinator Dennis Pearson spoke last week of his shock and amazement at the items, which included a John Lewis electric kettle, an iron, fan heater, cutlery, pots and pans, crockery, glasses and other household goods.

He claimed this was not an isolated incident and was fairly widespread in York, and called for a campaign headed by university institutions, local councils and landlords to encourage students to pass such items to their local charity shops or Community Furniture Store when they left and had no further need of them.

The university said it was committed to reducing waste, both on and off campus, and it worked closely organisations across the city to help achieve this.

The University Students’ Union, said a number of initiatives were in place to encourage students to recycle unwanted goods and kitchen equipment. The ‘Big Green Clean’ saw students donate unwanted items annually which were then sold on to other students, raising funds for local charities.

Mr Hopson said his area was heavily student populated street and was ‘like that most weeks’, and he had sent many pictures of this drop off site to the council.

He said the Pembroke Street pile was only three doors from the home of local councillor Danny Myers, and added that the next council collection would not be until Friday.

A York St University spokeswoman said it worked with students throughout their time at York St John to promote recycling and reducing waste.

She said: “Students’ Union activities to promote recycling at the end of tenancies this year which, for most, was at the end of June, have included a Freecycle campaign and work with City of York Council on waste disposal advice.”

A council spokeswoman said yesterday: “Having been reported to the council, this fly-tipped waste has been examined and cleared away today. “An investigation is underway into its origins. For information on Household Waste Recycling Centres and safe disposal of asbestos residents can visit www.york.gov.uk/waste . To report online visit: www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems or call 01904 551551.”