From tackling fly-tipping to boosting recycling rates and supporting community clean-ups, Ealing Council is working hard to instil a sense of pride across the borough’s 7 towns.

Fighting the war against waste

Earlier this year, the council announced a started a campaign to clamp down on fly-tipping . Since then, the maximum fine for people illegally dumping waste has risen from £400 to £1,000 and, in just 7 months, more than 2,000 fines have been issued.

The campaign, ‘This is our home, not a tip’, explains what fly-tipping is, what it costs the council, how to properly dispose of waste, and how to report fly-tippers and fly-tips.

And residents have shown their support by helping to identify offenders who are featured on a dedicated webpage created by the council to name, shame and catch offenders.

But, the council isn’t just clearing dumped waste – it’s tackling abandoned vehicles too. Usually, around 300-350 vehicles are lifted each year, but in 2025 alone, the council has removed more than 800 vehicles from the public highways.

A clean sweep

During the autumn’s seasonal surge in leaf fall, the council’s waste and recycling contractor Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL) was hard at work prioritising areas where vulnerable residents walk, where there was heavy leaf fall, as well as spots prone to flooding. This year, 27 extra staff joined the crews to keep the borough’s streets in good condition. Residents and community groups also pitched in by requesting community cleaning kits so they could do their bit to keep their neighbourhoods tidy, with almost 1,000 requests since September.

Independent inspection of cleansing performance shows that 91% of streets are litter free and the council is working towards increasing this percentage by the end of March 2026.

Recycling and reusing

Ealing Council boasts the second-highest recycling rate in London, with a 49.24% recycling rate in 2024/25, up from 48.72% in 2023/24. The council’s website offers guidance on what can and can’t be recycled, and remember, the council helps to recycle your Christmas trees after the festive season too.

In a bid to boost textiles recycling a partnership with charity retailer, Traid is making clothes reusing and recycling easier. Meanwhile, the council and West London Waste Authority are transforming the former reuse and recycling site in Stirling Road, Acton, into ‘ReActon’ – a hub for repairing, reusing and recycling everything from electronics to furniture. A series of events have already been hosted there, and there are plans for it be open on a more permanent basis in 2026.

And, the borough’s Library of Things, celebrated a year of sharing this year. The hub offers somewhere that residents and DIY enthusiasts can rent household items for a small fee. It has helped 672 residents borrow 886 useful items – collectively saving users £184,000 by borrowing instead of buying and preventing 9.6 tonnes of waste that would have been produced if those items had been thrown away.

A cleaner, greener future

Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: “We’re committed to making Ealing a cleaner, greener borough, and these initiatives show what we can achieve when the council and community work together.

“By giving residents the chance to borrow items from the Library of Things and take part in repair workshops, we’re not only reducing waste and cutting carbon emissions, but also helping people save money and learn practical skills that make everyday life more affordable and sustainable.”