Essex councils unite to scrap fly tipping

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land which doesn’t have a waste licence. This could include leaving items by a bin or outside a closed charity shop, recycling centre or donation bank.

Household waste has been found in over 60% of fly tips across the county in the past three years, costing Essex taxpayers around £1 million to clean up in 2022-23. Most reported fly tips also occur on highways or council land.

A new campaign launched yesterday (28th January) will run for three months to equip residents with the knowledge and tools to dispose of household waste responsibly.

The participating councils will also work closely to increase visible enforcement and share intelligence across the county.

Councillor Peter Schwier, Chair of the Essex Waste Partnership and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling at Essex County Council, said: “We listened to residents’ concerns around fly tipping and committed to work closely with our partners, as set out in our Waste Strategy for Essex.

“Fly tipping is not only an eyesore – it’s harmful for the environment, endangers wildlife and costs Essex taxpayers millions of pounds to clean up.

“Through this campaign, we want to make it easier for you to get rid of waste, either with a council service or through a licenced waste collector​. Let’s work together to keep Essex clean.”

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst said: “Fly-tipping is a serious issue that blights our communities, harms our environment and poses risks to public health and safety. It is crucial that we work together in partnership to tackle this problem head-on.

“By collaborating with local authorities, community groups, and residents, we can raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of fly-tipping. Our joint efforts will help to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment for everyone in Essex.

“Together, we can make a significant impact and ensure that our county remains free from the blight of illegally dumped rubbish. Let’s all do our part to scrap fly-tipping once and for all.”

Essex residents can visit www.loveessex.org/flytipping to find out more about fly tipping and the new campaign.