Fly-tipping is a persistent problem in England and the rest of the UK, with the issue escalating during the Covid-19 pandemic and the years since. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) releases fly-tipping statistics for England every year, so it’s quite easy to assess the impact on local councils around the country.
There were 1.15 million incidents of fly-tipping in England in 2023/24. The highest number of incidents were in London, with 49.7 incidents per thousand people. The North East came in second with 25.2, followed by the East Midlands with 19.2.
Fly-tipping is mainly an issue on highways, with 427,000 incidents in 2023/24. This is followed by footpaths and bridleways, with 218,000 incidents in the same period, and then council land (197,000).
Here are the fly-tipping hotspots around England, according to the most recent government statistics.
Fly-tipping hotspots
Croydon, London
Croydon had 35,470 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24. Seven of the nine top fly-tipping hotspots during this period were in London. In 2024, Croydon Council spent about £1m on clearing fly-tipped waste.
Camden, London
Camden had 34,786 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24. You can report fly-tipping incidents to Camden Council through the Love Clean Streets app.
Hackney, London
Hackney had 33,464 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24. Green spaces like Hackney Marshes are occasionally hotspots for fly-tipping.
Nottingham
Nottingham had 30,511 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24, the highest number of incidents outside London. Blenheim Lane in the Nottingham suburb of Bulwell has been named as a problem area for fly-tipping, due to its secluded location.
Lewisham, London
Lewisham had 27,599 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24.
Brent, London
Brent had 27,023 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24. Fly-tipping fines have more than doubled in the north-west London borough over the past 12 months, the local authority reported. More than 5,700 enforcement actions took place over the last 12 months, up from around 2,700 the year before.
Westminster, London
Westminster had 25,531 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24. In 2023, the local authority identified three fly-tipping hotspot areas within the London borough, installing AI-powered CCTV to identify incidents of suspected fly-tipping.
Southwark, London
Southwark had 22,912 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24. The local authority's Environment Enforcement Team aim to respond to fly-tipping alerts in 24 hours. If you see items that have been fly-tipped in the area, report it here or on FixMyStreet.
Liverpool
Liverpool had 20,003 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023/24, the second-highest number of incidents outside of London during this period. Earlier this year, Liverpool City Council introduced harsher penalties for fly-tippers, having spent £12 million a year on cleaning litter and fly-tipping across the city.
The charge for dropping litter has increased from £80 to £150, while fly-tipping of up to three bags will now result in a £500 fine, while more than three bags (but less than a van load) will bring a penalty of £750. Larger loads will land those responsible with a £1,000 fine.
More fly-tipping stories
- "We have made our farms into medieval forts": farmers reveal devastating impact of fly-tipping as cases reach record high
- John Craven: Countryside waste crime has reached crisis point
- Trashing Eden: How our countryside became a dumping ground
Top image: Camden council environment department No Dumping sign at Seven Dials in Covent Garden (credit: Getty Images)
