Havering has been exposed as one of the biggest fly-tipping hotspots in England, with an average of 10 incidents every day.
Data released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed the scale of the “epidemic”.
There were 4,655 fly-tipping incidents in Havering over the 12 months to March, an increase of 64per cent from five years ago.
A source of frustration among Havering residents, fly-tipping has become commonplace in areas such as Upminster – Sunnings Lane and Gerpins Lane proving particular targets.
In November last year, 11 caravans entered Grenfell Park, Hornchurch, followed by five transit tippers which all dumped industrial waste before scarpering.
Such incidents have led Havering Council to introduce preventative regulations in some of the worst affected areas.
Last month, a vandal was charged with dumping waste in Angel Way, Romford, without a licence, fined £1,500 and sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work.
A spokesman for the council, which is estimated to have spent £617,400 last year tackling the issue, said: “Figures by Defra show Havering in the top five of London boroughs carrying out enforcement action against fly-tippers.
“While we are tackling more fly-tipping incidents year-on-year, our enforcement action has been consistent at a high level and we have recently seen again successful prosecutions of those who carry out this anti-social behaviour.”
Council measures include launching 5,195 investigations, sending out 3,986 warning letters, issuing 611 penalty notices, and undertaking 369 inspections.
The volume of waste most commonly tipped in the borough was the equivalent of a small van load, but there was also a notable rise recorded in large scale tips equating to a lorry’s worth or more.
The most common type of waste dumped in Havering was household rubbish, which accounted for 2,345 incidents.
“The council will not tolerate the illegal dumping of waste and we will do everything in our power to bring perpetrators to justice,” continued the Havering statement.
“We urge our residents to continue to support us in reporting fly-tipping and also disposing of their waste legally and responsibly.”
can use the environments in which our residents live as a repository for litter.”
A Defra spokesperson meanwhile commented: “Councils are using powers to hand out on-the-spot fines to fly-tippers to good effect, and we have made it easier for vehicles suspected of being used for fly-tipping to be stopped, searched and seized.
“New fixed penalty notices for householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper also come into force shortly, as we continue our efforts to crackdown on those who blight our landscapes.”
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