Fly-tipping has been a growing concern in Croydon, with over 56,000 incidents cleared in 2024 at a cost exceeding £1 million.
Croydon Council has announced a new enforcement policy aimed at tackling the rising number of environmental crimes across the borough. The initiative seeks to make Croydon a cleaner, safer, and healthier place by cracking down on fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles, and other offences that contribute to urban blight.
The policy introduces a stepped approach, combining education, awareness, and stronger enforcement. Residents and businesses will receive guidance on waste disposal regulations, but those who fail to comply will face penalties, including fines and potential prosecution. The new measures will also strengthen the efforts of the council’s award-winning trading standards team.
Fly-tipping has been a growing concern in Croydon, with over 56,000 incidents cleared in 2024 at a cost exceeding £1 million. To tackle the issue more effectively, the council will launch a full cost-recovery model and create a new community compliance team. This team, comprising four officers, will ensure that cleanup costs are recovered from offenders rather than being passed on to taxpayers.
Croydon’s waste and street cleansing contract with Veolia has already achieved a 95% clearance rate for reported fly-tips within 24 hours. However, the new policy aims to reduce incidents by preventing illegal dumping in the first place. Formal warnings will be issued for minor offences, escalating to fines and court action for repeat or severe violations.
Private landowners will also be held accountable for waste dumped on their properties. They will be required to clear rubbish within a set timeframe, failing which the council will remove the waste and charge them for the full cost of disposal.
Residents will be invited to share their views on the policy through a public consultation this summer.
Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said: “My administration has prioritised tackling environmental crime from day one. Improvements to the Love Clean Streets app and the rapid clearance of fly-tips have made a difference, but more needs to be done.
“Our new street-based compliance officers will focus on intelligence-led enforcement, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices where necessary and escalating serious cases for prosecution. Their presence will serve as both a deterrent and a means of holding offenders accountable.”
The council remains committed to maintaining a cleaner borough and ensuring those responsible for environmental crimes face the appropriate consequences
