A “top-10” list of locations in England with the highest levels of recorded fly-tipping has been compiled using the most recent figures.
Across the UK, fly-tipping had previously shown a decline from 2007/08 until 2013/14 [1]. Since then, the total number of fly-tipping incidents has increased year on year, with 1m incidents reported or dealt with by local authorities in 2016/17, according to retailer Furniture Choice.
In May 2016, local authorities in England were given new legislative power to issue out fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping offences. In 2016/17 local authorities across England issued over 56,000 fixed penalty notices alongside 47,000 warning letters, 22,000 statutory notices and 1,571 prosecutions for fly-tipping offences.
Furniture Choice analysed the latest government data surrounding the issue to reveal the ten locations in England with the highest number of fly-tipping incidents in 2016/2017:
- Enfield – 75,614
- Haringey – 33,333
- Manchester – 28,508
- Croydon – 24,797
- Hounslow – 22,973
- Liverpool – 20,832
- Newham – 19,917
- Northampton – 18,128
- Brent – 17,340
- Southwark – 17, 131
The data analysis also revealed the top ten local authorities handing out the most fixed penalty notices in 2016/2017[2]:
- Ealing – 8,398
- Waltham Forest – 7,394
- Merton – 5,352
- Islington – 4,992
- Westminster – 3,240
- Hillingdon – 3,031
- Newham – 2,244
- Wandsworth – 1,969
- Manchester – 1,416
- Tower Hamlets – 1,302
Increasing Awareness
The local authority which handed out the highest value of fly-tipping fines in 2016/17 fixed was Birmingham (£65,637), whilst Enfield Council spent the most on clearance costs for fly-tipping incidents, spending a total of £3,037,229 in 2016/17 alone[2].
To help councils reduce fly-tipping, Furniture Choice has created an online tool populated with more than 800 furniture recycling and donation centres across the UK, which helps people identify their nearest location in which to take their unwanted furniture and white goods.
“It is great to see that some councils are exercising their new legislative powers and issuing fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping, as hopefully it will deter people from committing the offence. However, more needs to be done on encouraging people to use recycling and donation sites instead of illegally discarding their waste.”
Furniture Choice also spoke to the British public to find out how they think councils are faring with the issue of fly tipping. The results revealed that Brits think councils should provide easier alternatives to fly-tipping (39%) and increase the awareness of fly-tipping laws (38%).
One in eight (13%) of those polled also admitted to illegally dumping their unwanted waste and more than a quarter (28%) of those who fly-tip don’t realise they are actually breaking the law.
Tom Obbard, Director at Furniture Choice, said: “Fly-tipping causes a devastating impact on the environment and is expensive to clear, so it is a major concern that incidents are increasing in England.
“It is great to see that some councils are exercising their new legislative powers and issuing fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping, as hopefully it will deter people from committing the offence. However, more needs to be done on encouraging people to use recycling and donation sites instead of illegally discarding their waste.”
Other “Top 10” Fly-Tipping Lists
Local authorities making the most money from fines issued for fly-tipping incidents:
- Birmingham – £65,637
- Hillingdon – £63,150
- South Bucks – £35,182
- Manchester – £34, 259
- Southwark – £31,244
- Hackney – £30,660
- Waltham Forest – £26,995
- Newcastle upon Tyne – £26,982
- City of London – £20,000
- Redbridge – £15,602
Local authorities spending the most on clearance costs for fly-tipping incidents:
- Enfield – £3,037,229
- Manchester – £2,812,890
- Croydon – £1,911,094
- Southwark – £1,723,403
- Haringey – £1,444,089
- Newham – £1,361,916
- Leeds – £1,354,522
- Liverpool – £972,686
- Birmingham – £931,441
- Northampton – £885,562
