City's fly-tipping reports surge amid crackdown

More than 7,600 incidents of fly-tipping have been reported in Stoke-on-Trent since a council crackdown was launched last year.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council announced its Illegal Dumping in our Towns (IDIOT) campaign in June 2023, pledging to clean up 1,000 grot spots and boost enforcement.

The authority said 7,661 incidents were reported in the following 16 months, 84% up on the 4,161 flagged over the previous 16 months.

Cabinet member Amjid Wazir described the increase as a "win" and said it showed more people were willing to report fly-tipping.

He said the authority had made its online reporting system more accessible, increased signage across the area and deployed more environmental crime officers.

According to the council's latest figures, it takes an average of 3.3 days to remove fly-tipping waste – down from 13.1 days in 2022-23.

The council also increased the maximum fine issued to fly-tippers to £1,000 following a change in the law.

Tom Simpson, secretary of Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents' Association, said the situation had improved in his area recently.

He said: "It does still happen, but things are a bit better now. Hollywall Lane used to be a hotspot for fly-tipping but there are CCTV cameras there now and I think that's acting as a deterrent.

"It also helps when the fly-tipping is cleared away as quickly as possible. Some people will see some dumped waste and think that it means it's OK to fly-tip there."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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