Fly-tipping crackdown given the greenlight
A comprehensive five-year strategy to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping has been approved by Lancaster City Council.
Developed in partnership with leading environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the strategy marks a significant step forward in the council’s commitment to creating cleaner, safer communities.
Fly-tipping is a major issue for communities across the UK, and in the Lancaster district alone the council dealt with more than 3,600 cases last year, with the majority involving household waste.
The financial costs are substantial at around £300,000, with resources having to be diverted from other vital services, while also impacting the quality of life for residents.
Councillor Paul Hart, Cabinet member for environmental services, said:
“Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and our environment and we all need to work together to stamp it out.
“Every incident uses precious resources which could have been used elsewhere to keep our district clean and tidy, while affecting the quality of life of residents.
“Keep Britain Tidy’s expertise in tackling litter and illegal dumping of waste has been invaluable and helped us to focus on what really works, ensuring our approach is evidence-based and effective.
“As we roll out the strategy we hope residents and businesses will work with us and do their bit to help fly-tipping and keep our district looking its best.”
The newly approved strategy focuses on seven strands of action:
- Ensuring all households have the means to dispose of waste correctly
- Education-first approach to support behaviour change
- Introducing a firmer ‘no side-waste’ policy
- Improving processes for recording and reporting fly-tipping
- Targeted action in hotspot areas
- Increased enforcement activity and presence
- Robust communications to keep residents informed and engaged
With the strategy now approved, the council will being rolling out a comprehensive action plan to ensure lasting improvements.
Last updated: 12 December 2025