Illegal fly-tipping takes place somewhere in Sussex every 42 minutes at a cost of almost £1 a minute for councils to clear up, new figures showed today.

The statistics come from Flycapture - a national database set up by the Department for Environment, Transport, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association.

The problem is costing councils across the county nearly half a million pounds a year.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: "Fly-tipping has been increasing massively over the last few years."

The agency warned last year that the dumping of hazardous waste had become widespread .

Electrical goods such as computer and television screens require special disposal and can present a health hazard if not carried out properly.

The standard rate of landfill tax increased by £3 to £18 a tonne in April. It is to continue until it reaches £35 a tonne.

Disposing of the contents of a six-yard builders' skip cost £90 a year ago compared with about £125 today.

It is thought this has fuelled a rapid expansion in the black market for clandestine rubbish disposal, which is being exploited even by mainstream building contractors.

While the average fine is around £2,500, illegal operators can make £100,000 a year from fly-tipping.

Joe McNulty, of Brighton construction firm Integra, said: "Householders need to realise that if someone offers to clear rubbish for £50 it's not going to the local tip. It will end up on the Downs.

"It's not cowboy builders but cowboy customers who are the problem."

Councils have been given powers from this week under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act to recoup their costs from cleaning up fly-tipping.

The Act also gives councils greater powers to investigate suspected fly-tippers.

Witnesses must now tell council enforcement officers or face a fine of up to £5,000.

A hotline for people to report antisocial behaviour has been inundated with calls since its launch in Brighton and Hove at the end of February.

Fly-tipping was among the topics prompting the most calls.

Under the Flycapture scheme, local councils and the Environment Agency record details of all fly-tipping incidents they deal with.

Last year Brighton and Hove taxpayers spent £51,376 clearing up 1,321 fly-tipping incidents, councils in West Sussex spent £263,412 clearing up 5,228 incidents and those in East Sussex spent £168,718 clearing up 5,783 incidents.

Now local authorities and landowners can recover these costs from the offenders.

Gill Mitchell, chair of Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, said: "We welcome the new powers and hope they will reduce the amount we will have to spend on clearing up dumped rubbish.

"Fly-tipping is very often carried out by traders who collect refuse and don't dispose of it properly.

"We also know of some rogue tree cutting firms who will prune trees and dump the waste.

"Sometimes we can successfully prosecute fly-tippers but sometimes it's more difficult."

Conservative councillor Brian Oxley said: "Fly-tipping damages the environment and people's quality of life. It needs to be nipped in the bud as quickly as possible. People who live by the rules get really narky when they see other people getting away with it. The council should use as many powers as it can."

A Government spokesman said: "Landfill tax is rising to meet targets to cut the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. The extra money is being used to give advice on how to minimise, recycle and re-use waste. There is no excuse for fly-tipping.

"Over 50 per cent of all incidents of fly-tipping involve household waste, which may be taken to the tip free of charge."

The most frequently dumped items are household rubbish, fridges and freezers, construction, demolition and home improvement materials and garden rubbish.

Top dumping spots include the roadside, council land, back alleyways and country paths.