Unwanted goods, unwanted mess: Tackling London’s fly-tipping nuisance

Fly-tipping plagues our capital city and in 2016/17, over 1,000 incidents were reported each day.

Illegally dumped waste has huge environmental, social and economic costs. Currently fly-tipping is increasing at an alarming rate in London and since 2012/13, fly-tipping incidents have increased by 58% in the capital, compared to 41% in England as a whole. Furthermore fly-tipping in London accounts for over a third of all fly-tipping in England. The cost of investigations into, and disposal of this illegal rubbish in the capital totalled £18.4 million in 2016/17.

This report will look at the issue of fly-tipping in London, identify where there has been good practice, and make recommendations as to what the Mayor of London can do to address this issue in the capital.

The report recommends that:

1. The Mayor assist local authorities in tackling fly-tipping by launching an awareness-raising programme that highlights: i) The law on fly-tipping and what legal action will be taken against offenders; ii) The need to check the Waste Transfer Licence of anyone who collects anything from your household (other than the local authority domestic refuse collections), whether building or other waste; iii) The existing waste schemes in London and their benefits, in particular those which support the circular economy.
   

2. The Mayor should consult the boroughs and the Environment Agency on a London-wide approach to fly-tipping and to develop a London-wide strategy that promotes cross-borough information-sharing and consistency in prevention and enforcement. This could include establishing common recording practices, as a way to achieve an accurate picture of the issue of fly-tipping across the capital.

3. The Mayor should initiate research through the GLA Evidence and Insight team into the reasons for fly-tipping in London. This should be done in conjunction with the Environment Agency to establish how to best encourage behaviour change, and to support programmes that aim to reduce illegal dumping of waste.

4. The Mayor should ensure that the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) undertake more publicity about schemes that can divert fly-tipping into the circular economy.