A VAN driver has been left down in the dumps after being told his three-and-a-half-tonne vehicle was too big for the tip.

Brighton man Leo Tramer hoped to bin 12 rolls of grey and brown carpet at the recycling centre in Wilson Avenue.

But officials at the depot pulled the rug out from underneath him – deeming his transit van too big to enter.

The 27-year-old said he now faces “no other option” but to illegally dump the floor covering.

“It was a terrible day,” the analyst from Shanklin Road said.

“We started ripping all this carpet out and wanted to get it recycled through a recycling company.

“We care about the environment and we don’t want to just chuck away good carpet.

“A man in a high vis at the tip said 'can I have a look at the weight of the van on the side panel'.

“He saw that it is three and a half tonnes and said ‘I’m sorry, we can’t let you in’.

“I said ‘what are you talking about… I’m not commercial waste, I’m just getting rid of a bit of carpet in my house’.”

The Argus: Mr Tramer said has no idea what to do with his carpetMr Tramer said has no idea what to do with his carpet

Mr Tramer was told he would have better luck making a trip to West Sussex. But the weight restrictions are the same there.

He then suggested that he park around the corner and walk in the rugs by hand. However officials said this would not be possible.

“I don’t really understand that,” said Mr Tramer.

“But I thought, whatever, it’s your tip.”

Still in possession of his rugs, the only thing he was able to tip off was The Argus.

He said: “I wasn’t happy with his suggestions, I now have a van full of carpet and I don’t know what to do with it.

“Frankly, they haven’t left me with any other choices but to fly-tip.

“Of course I will not be doing that.”

Eco-conscious Mr Tramer added: “Since we have a Green MP, I thought we’re supposed to have environmentally friendly ethics.

“I thought if I couldn’t even recycle it, I should be able to dispose of it in a manner which is good for the environment.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Vehicles that weigh 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) or more are not allowed to enter either of our household waste recycling sites for safety reasons.

“This is clearly stated on our website, and is clearly signposted as you approach the gates to the site, where there is also a height barrier.

“The health and safety of all site users is our top priority.

“Such vehicles are too large and pose a danger to other site users. They don’t fit into the parking spaces and their size is such that the driver may have difficulty seeing pedestrians, particularly when reversing or turning.

“We cannot comment on the claim that the person was told to go to West Sussex. But we will be reminding our staff that it would never be acceptable to advise people to attempt to bypass regulations either here or elsewhere.”

Other vehicles that are not allowed to enter either of the city's tips for the same reasons are Luton, or box style body vans, flatbed, tipper, dropside or similar body style and most trailers.

West Sussex County Council has the same weight restrictions for vehicles