Greenwich Council is set to increase investment in tackling fly-tipping across the borough, following a council meeting on Wednesday 29 October 2025.

The council has agreed to allocate a dedicated investment package to deliver a comprehensive programme against fly-tipping, which remains a top concern for residents. According to the Public reports pack, 13% of respondents to the 2025/2026 budget consultation cited the cleanliness of streets and local areas as their biggest concern, second only to tackling anti-social behaviour. The approved motion includes measures to increase fines, expand clearing capacity, and enhance enforcement efforts.

The overall annual cost of dealing with fly-tipping across the borough is currently £822,450, part of the £8.5 million spent on street cleansing. Since 2021, the council has collected and cleaned up almost 3,218 tonnes of fly-tipped waste.

The approved measures include:

  • Increasing fines for fly-tipping up to £1000.
  • Expanding fly-tipping clearing capacity from five to nine teams.
  • Doubling the size of the enforcement squad and equipping officers with eight new mobile CCTV units.
  • Introducing a public reward scheme offering incentives of up to £100 for information leading to successful prosecutions.
  • Introducing a name and shame video series, which will feature a Caught in the Act initiative, highlighting successful enforcement outcomes against offenders, while maintaining legal and data protection standards.
  • Launching a borough-wide awareness campaign.
  • Installing decorative planters and landscaping at identified hotspots.
  • Reviewing and improving the bulky waste collection service.

During the meeting, Councillor Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member Inclusive Economy, Business, Greenwich Supports and Environmental Services, and Councillor Issy Cooke proposed the motion to allocate investment to tackle fly-tipping.

Councillor Jahdia Spencer asked about the amount of money the council is spending on tackling fly-tipping and cleaning up litter in wards like West Thamesmead and across the Borough. Councillor Smith noted that the council cleared approximately 841 tonnes of fly-tipped rubbish in the past year.

Councillor Raja Zeeshan also raised concerns about fly-tipping in Shooters Hill, particularly in hotspots such as Occupation Lane and parts of the Barnfield Estate. He asked what additional measures were being considered to deter fly-tipping across the Borough. Councillor Smith responded that the council is committed to ending this unacceptable behaviour and will be taking multiple coordinated actions to make a real impact, including education, awareness campaigns, a new taskforce, a public reward scheme, and increasing the capacity of the enviro-crime enforcement team.

Councillor Zeeshan also asked whether the council would consider piloting a naming and shaming initiative for persistent offenders, alongside increasing visible enforcement patrols and CCTV at hotspot sites. Councillor Smith confirmed that the council plans to increase visible enforcement patrols and use targeted CCTV monitoring at identified fly-tipping hotspots to deter repeat offences and support investigations.