Hackney Council’s crackdown on fly-tipping is paying off, with illegally dumped black sacks left by high-street businesses falling by 15 per cent between May and August — saving taxpayers more than £26,000 in clean-up costs.
What happens next
The council says enforcement will continue through the autumn, with officers carrying out more spot checks on high-street businesses and responding to reports from residents. Anyone who sees dumped waste is urged to report it, giving as much detail as possible about the location and what has been left behind.
The figures, published by the council on October 15, show enforcement is biting. Officers issued 805 fixed penalty notices between April and August, a 71 per cent increase on the same period last year.
Reports of fly-tipping are also being dealt with faster. The average time to remove dumped waste has fallen by 0.28 days to 2.37 days, even as reports rose by 52 per cent to around 8,000.
Mayor Zoë Garbett said the results showed the council’s tougher approach was working, and vowed to continue targeting businesses and individuals who dump waste illegally.
Business waste is a particular focus. High-street shops, takeaways and market traders must have a commercial waste contract — dumping black sacks on the pavement or in residential bins is illegal and can lead to a fixed penalty or prosecution.
The 15 per cent fall relates specifically to black sacks dumped by businesses, suggesting the council’s targeting of commercial offenders — through inspections and penalties — is changing behaviour.
Faster removal matters. Dumped waste that lingers attracts more dumping, as well as vermin and complaints. By cutting the average clearance time to 2.37 days, the council is trying to break that cycle.
But the 52 per cent rise in reports suggests residents are also more willing to report dumping — or that there is simply more of it to report. Either way, the council says it wants every incident flagged so it can act.
The numbers at a glance
- 15%: fall in illegally dumped black sacks by businesses (May to August 2026)
- £26,000+: saved in clean-up costs
- 805: fixed penalty notices issued (April to August), up 71% year on year
- 8,000: fly-tipping reports, up 52%
- 2.37 days: average removal time, 0.28 days faster
- 1.26m: fly-tipping incidents across England in 2024/25, up 9%
The national picture
The borough’s progress comes against a bleak national backdrop. There were 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents across England in 2024/25, up 9 per cent on the previous year — a reminder that illegal dumping remains one of the country’s most stubborn environmental crimes.
Hackney is not the only borough taking a tough line. In Thamesmead, a torn delivery label helped the council trace a fly-tipper who was landed with a £1,000 fine.
How to get rid of waste legally in Hackney
- Check your waste carrier holds a valid licence — or call 0300 065 3000 for advice
- Book a bulky waste collection through the council’s website or on 020 8356 6688
- Never leave rubbish beside bins, on the pavement or on private land
- Report dumped waste to the council so it can be cleared quickly
Warning over rogue traders
The results come as Keep Britain Tidy’s Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight runs from October 12 to 25. The campaign warns residents about criminal waste traders — rogue operators who charge to take rubbish away and then dump it illegally, leaving the householder potentially liable.
The enforcement drive is being led by Hackney Council under Mayor Zoë Garbett, whose administration has been setting out its budget priorities as it balances services against funding pressures.
The council says it will continue its enforcement push, with more patrols and penalties for businesses that dump illegally. Residents can help by reporting fly-tipping promptly and always checking that anyone taking their waste away is properly licensed.
