Wandsworth steps up fight against fly-tippers with prevention at the top of the agenda

The Council has announced plans to trial pavement stencils in fly-tipping hotspots. Designed to act as a highly visible deterrent, the stencils will remind residents that fly-tipping is a fineable offence and encourage responsible waste disposal.

The stencil markings will not be permanent and will not damage the pavement. They will be applied following the removal of a fly-tip and provide a reminder, at the point at which someone might fly-tip, that they will be held to account if they do so.

At the same time, the Council is seeking to raise awareness about what constitutes as fly-tipping to ensure residents are aware of the action they face if they are caught.

Throughout Keep Britain Tidy’s Fly-Tipping Fortnight (12 – 27 October), the Council will showcase real examples of enforcement action taken in Wandsworth on social media, highlighting the range of offences that have resulted in people being caught and fined.

The stencils and sharing of these examples, form part of a wider package of work, including the development of a new multi-year fly-tipping strategy that will coordinate efforts across the entire council as well as increase the number of enforcement officers.

The strategy will balance prompt clearance with robust prevention measures, set clear objectives for reducing fly-tipping, introduce ambitious new interventions, and ensure future waste service contracts include rigorous performance standards and data requirements to improve monitoring and enforcement.

Councillor Ethan Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

"Most residents take pride in keeping their neighbourhoods clean, and it is unfair that a small minority continue to blight our streets through fly-tipping. We are determined to use every tool available to prevent it, from education and enforcement to new deterrents.

“This is designed to be a long-term plan to embed good practice, have the right teams for the job and deter people once and for all from fly-tipping in Wandsworth. By working together, we can keep Wandsworth's streets cleaner, safer and more attractive for everyone."

The Council continues to investigate reported fly-tipping incidents, issue fixed penalty notices where appropriate and take legal action against persistent offenders.

If you spot a fly-tip, report it through the Wandsworth Council website.