Redbridge Council is set to enhance its efforts to combat fly-tipping through a multi-pronged approach involving increased CCTV surveillance and public education initiatives. The strategy was discussed and agreed upon by the Clean and Green Committee during their meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, as detailed in the Public reports pack.
Fly-tipping, described as a national problem that can quickly reappear, was identified as a key priority for the council's upcoming work plan. Councillor Tony Ralph, Interim Director of Environment, explained that while the council is efficient at clearing fly-tipped waste, it is a persistent issue that can quickly reappear.
Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods, added that it is quite a widespread issue, particularly where you've got transient populations as well. So there's quite a few dimensions to it as an issue.
Councillor Monika Patel highlighted concerns about the issue in her ward, suggesting that greater use of CCTV for enforcement would be beneficial. This aligns with the council's plan to strengthen prevention, enforcement, and rapid response to fly-tipping incidents.
Jo Blackman emphasized that tackling fly-tipping requires a combination of engagement and education with residents, alongside enforcement measures. The committee also noted the positive impact of the Clean and Green app in improving response times for litter reporting, a testament to the effectiveness of technology in addressing environmental concerns.
Councillor Ralph explained that the committee's work plan for 2026-27 will focus on street cleanliness and fly-tipping as a combined area of focus, alongside green spaces and biodiversity.
In addition to enforcement, the council is committed to educating residents on waste reduction and recycling. Councillor Patel inquired about the proportion of recycling processed locally and the effectiveness of current programmes. Councillor Blackman assured that Redbridge's recycling rate hovers around 30%, with expected improvements from a new food waste collection scheme. She also confirmed that recycling is processed locally with low contamination rates due to the council's two-box system, and that the council is moving towards a single wheelie bin for dry recycling, which will provide more capacity than the current two boxes.
The council's recycling facilities are implied to be able to handle increased volumes with the new schemes.
Further details on the committee's agenda can be found in the Agenda frontsheet and Supplementary Agenda.