Croydon has seen a 21% drop in the number of recorded fly-tips across the borough over a six-month period this year compared with last year.
From April to October this year there were 11,876 reported incidents of fly-tipping, down from 15,211 during the same period in 2016. Month by month, the drop between 2016 and 2017 ranged from 16% in June to a 35% drop in April.
| Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Total | |
| 16/17 | 2,325 | 2,139 | 2,138 | 2,338 | 2,274 | 2,137 | 1,860 | 15,211 |
| 17/18 | 1,507 | 1,677 | 1,795 | 1,763 | 1,740 | 1,694 | 1,700 | 11,876 |
| % change | -35.1% | -21.5% | -16% | -24.5% | -23.4% | -20.7% | -8.6% | -21.9% |
Almost every ward saw a drop in the number of recorded fly-tips comparing these six-month periods, with the biggest percentage drops in South Norwood (39%), Shirley (39%), Ashburton (38%) and Woodside (36%). The largest drop by number of fly-tips was in Selhurst (down by 520 fly-tips, or 35%).
Three wards saw a rise in the percentage of fly-tips – Coulsdon West (13 extra fly-tips, up 6%), Selsdon & Ballards (up 18% to 90 fly-tips), and a 5% rise in Thornton Heath to 1,492.
The figures include all reported incidents that were cleared by not just council waste contractor Veolia, but also other council departments including housing and parks.
Since the council’s Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign began in 2014 to combine enforcement with encouraging local people to get involved in clear-ups, the council has:
• Exceeded its target of clearing 80% of fly-tips within 48 hours – the current rate is 87%
• Prosecuted 171 offenders in court, including two fly-tippers sent to prison
• Seized 32 vehicles used to illegally store or dump waste, many of which the council has since crushed
• Encouraged over 300 people to sign up as community champions, with over 100 clear-ups
• Invested £1.3m into improving street cleaning, from new litter vacuums to installing 80 solar-powered BigBelly bins
• Tackled shopfront fly-tipping by restricting over 3,400 businesses’ waste collection times to between 8am and 5pm, making it harder for fly-tippers to illegally add to.
This shopfront fly-tipping clampdown, known as time-banded waste collection, expanded on Monday to cover another 500 addresses from South End to Selsdon Road in South Croydon.
“These latest figures are encouraging, but the council’s work goes on to tackle fly-tipping, make our streets even cleaner and improve the local environment for our residents.”
Councillor Stuart Collins, deputy leader – Clean Green Croydon
To report a fly-tip confidentially, use the My Croydon app, notify the council through My Account, call 0208 604 7000 or email flytip@croydon.gov.uk
