Watch out fly-tippers. You could be hit with tougher new fines of up to £1,000 – more than double the old amount.

Ealing Council has started a campaign to crack down on all anti-social waste dumpers. This new, steeper, fine replaces the old limit of £400 and shows how seriously the issue is being taken.

The higher fine sits alongside a new awareness campaign, ‘This is our home, not a tip’. It aims to explain what fly-tipping is, its impacts, and how everyone can help by disposing of waste correctly and reporting fly-tipping.

Why is it such a problem?

The council recorded 22,730 incidents of fly-tipping across the borough in 2024 and spends £3million on average per year in clearing and disposing of this waste. That is money that could be better spent. For example, it would be enough to pay for:

• 200 more CCTV cameras to help fight crime

• 32,000 potholes in our roads to be repaired

• more than 4.000 weeks of support at a day care centre for a vulnerable adult

Greener Ealing Ltd, the council’s rubbish and recycling contractor, works hard to collect as many fly-tips as possible, as quickly as it can. Currently, 98% of reported fly-tips are collected within 2 working days. But, this is time that could be better spent on keeping your streets clear of litter.

The council also has to spend time and money working hard to identify offenders. It uses evidence found in the dumped waste itself, CCTV footage and videos from witnesses to track down fly-tippers and issue fines.

Alongside the campaign, and penalties and fines, the council also works directly with residents – especially with the community group LAGER Can, which organises regular litter picks and reports fly-tips its members come across. More information about the group can be found at: www.lagercan.co.uk

‘A blight on our streets’

Council leader Peter Mason said: “Whether it be a single bag of rubbish or heap of household furniture, fly-tipping is a blight on our streets and has a direct impact on the environment and the quality of life for our residents. It is also drain on council funds, which would be better spent supporting our residents.

“By raising the fines to £1,000, we are sending a clear message that illegal waste dumping will not be tolerated.”

Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, added: “The increased fines, partnership with LAGER Can and launch of the ‘This is our home, not a tip’ campaign will all help to show our communities’ united front against these anti-social dumpers. A big thank you to LAGER Can’s volunteers. We all want a clean, safe borough, and we won’t let a few spoil it for the many.”

Dealing with waste

You can report fly-tipping via the Love Clean Streets app or the council website.

Visit the council’s website to find out how to properly dispose of your waste, including details of the bulky waste collection service.