1-in-10 Fly-Tip in These Local Councils

These Boroughs Lead UK’s Fly-Tipping PANDEMIC

Westminster is the worst spot in England for fly-tipping, a new study has found.  

Eco-friendly rubbish removal company Hippo Waste analysed the latest data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs on fly-tipping statistics for each local authority in England from April 2022 until March 2023. The number of fly-tipping reports was found for each council area and compared with population size. The areas were then ranked based on the highest number of incidents per 1,000 residents.   

Table: England’s local authorities with the highest number of fly-tipping incidents per 1,000 people 

Westminster ranks as England’s worst spot for fly-tipping. Between April 2022 and March 2023, reports reached 30,737, at a rate of 145.4 incidents per 1,000 people. The area also saw 2,694 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) during this period.   

Camden misses out on the top spot, averaging 144.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. While Camden has more reports than in Westminster, with 31,457, only 462 FPNs have been issued, over 2,000 less than Westminster.  

London continues to dominate the study, with 14 of the 20 most littered spots in the country found in the capital. Hackney, Brent, and Hounslow round out the top five, with 105.1, 102.1, and 90 fly-tipping reports per 1,000 residents. Haringey, Merton, Lewisham, and Hammersmith and Fulham claim sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth place, averaging over 70 incidents per 1,000 people.  

Ranking tenth overall, Nottingham is England’s worst spot outside of London. Reports of fly-tipping reached 21,298 over the 12 months from April 2022 to March 2023, at a rate of 64.8 incidents per 1,000 locals. Despite ranking high for the rate of reports, the fines issued during this period amounted to only £500.   

The London boroughs of Southwark and Croydon take 11th and 12th position in the study, while Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, and Tower Hamlets rank 15th, 16th, and 17th.  

Reigate and Banstead in Surrey takes 13th place and second highest among spots outside of London. Reports of fly-tipping, recorded by the council, reached 7,887, averaging 51.3 incidents per 1,000 people.   

The North East’s litter hotspot is Redcar and Cleveland, ranking 14th among English local authorities. Between April 2022 and March 2023, there were 50.6 reports for every 1,000 people in the area, more than any other in the region.   

Claiming 18th spot on the study, Liverpool has seen 23,404 reports at a rate of 47.1 per 1,000 residents. These figures make Liverpool the fly-tipping capital of the North West, ahead of places like Blackpool, Blackburn, and Manchester.   

Peterborough and Newcastle-upon-Tyne round out the top 20 fly-tipping hotspots, averaging more than 45 incidents per 1,000 locals. In Newcastle, fines totalling £19,793 were issued over the 12 months, the ninth highest amount countrywide.   

Despite not ranking among the worst local authorities for incidents, Manchester has accumulated a higher cash value of fines than any other place in the country. Between April 2022 and March 2023, fly-tipping fines amounted to £98,184, more than double that of the closest council area Blackburn with Darwen (£44,978).   

Gareth Lloyd Jones, Managing Director at Hippo Waste, commented on the study, “While places like Manchester and Blackburn may not rank high for incidents of fly-tipping, these councils appear to be where culprits are punished most with actions from their respective local council and hefty fines.  

“People are reminded of the dangers and risks of fly-tipping, with illegal waste dumping not only an eyesore for locals but also a health hazard, creating potentially hazardous areas for children, adults and wildlife. Instead of illegally dumping your waste, you are urged to visit your nearest recycling centre to dispose of everything in the most environmentally friendly manner.”