Fighting fly-tipping this November

We’re teaming up with Keep Britain Tidy for ‘Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight’, a new campaign to crack down on rogue operators. It's all about helping local residents protect themselves and their communities from the growing scourge of waste crime.

Fly-tipping costs hundreds of thousands of pounds every year to clean-up, draining money that could otherwise be spent on essential local services. 

Many residents unknowingly use traders who are not licensed and fly-tip the rubbish on our streets. When you get rid of waste it is your responsibility. This campaign is about making sure you do not fall for a #RubbishDeal. Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight aims to shine a spotlight on rogue operators, who lure people in with cheap deals, only to illegally dump household waste on streets, fields and public spaces.

Follow these steps to make sure your waste is disposed of properly:

• Ask for a waste carrier registration number
• Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register or call 0300 065 3000
• Check you’ll get a receipt.

Don’t Mess with Brent

The campaign is working alongside Don’t Mess with Brent which takes a zero-tolerance to fly-tipping, since last May, we have:

• Tripled the number of enforcement officers to 18, from 6 in 2024

• Doubled the number of refuse vehicles and mechanical sweepers on local streets

• Increased the amount of litter-pickers, keeping your streets clean throughout the day in the busiest areas.

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our borough, and like you, we’ve simply had enough. We are continuing to take a firm, zero-tolerance approach to those who dump waste illegally - but this is also a reminder that your waste is your responsibility. Rogue traders often lure people in with cheap, quick deals, but if they dump your rubbish illegally, you are still liable. A cheap offer today could cost you a fine tomorrow, so always check for a waste carrier licence and make sure you get a receipt so you don’t get caught out.

“Since last May, we’ve significantly strengthened our frontline response: more enforcement officers on the ground, more vehicles and mechanical sweepers, and more street-cleaning staff keeping our busiest areas tidy throughout the day. That tougher approach is already paying off - our Environmental Enforcement Team has issued 1,069 fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping-related offences since January. And we won’t stop there.”

Dr. Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy, said “Councils are on the frontline of the fight against fly-tipping, responding day in, day out to clear dumped waste and keep our public spaces safe and clean. We know how much pressure this puts on already stretched local teams and we’re incredibly grateful to Brent Council for joining forces with us for Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight.

“This campaign is about empowering residents to play their part in tackling this growing issue. By making simple checks before handing over waste and always getting a receipt, people can protect themselves from rogue traders, stop organised criminal networks in their tracks and help ensure public money is spent where it’s needed most.”

We are teaming up with local authorities across the country who are joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy to highlight the scale and impact of fly-tipping, and educate residents on how to protect themselves.