Hounslow Council is set to revise its approach to fly-tipping enforcement, moving away from a policy that has been criticised for disproportionately penalising residents while failing to deter large-scale offenders.
A motion debated at the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, highlighted the ineffectiveness of the current £1,000 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in reducing fly-tipping incidents. Councillor Jack Emsley, who proposed the motion, noted that fly-tipping rates in Hounslow had actually increased by 2% since the last corporate plan was set in 2022, despite the introduction of the new enforcement regime in April 2025. The council was still well short of achieving its goal of a 25% reduction in fly-tipping by 2026.
An amendment, proposed by Councillor Amy Croft, was carried, which will see new enforcement guidelines introduced for APCOA, the council's service contractor. These guidelines will focus on warnings for first-time offenders, aiming to replace the current heavy-handed policy
with one that targets large-scale fly-tippers. The Cabinet has been instructed to develop alternative enforcement policies and review the APCOA contract.
Councillor Emsley stated that the current policy had led to unjust enforcement actions against residents while real perpetrators escaped.
He cited examples of a single mother in Feltham fined for placing an envelope in the wrong bin, a pensioner fined for cleaning up after a street party, and a business fined for litter that did not belong to them.
Councillor Croft, Portfolio holder for Infrastructure, Enforcement and Recycling, acknowledged that fly-tipping remains a significant concern and that the Council's approach is based on three linked objectives: keeping streets clean, deterring deliberate dumping, and supporting residents to dispose of waste correctly. She noted that a review of enforcement is already underway to ensure a firm, fair and proportionate
approach, particularly in cases where evidence or personal circumstances require careful consideration.
While fly-tipping rates across London have risen by 15%, Hounslow's have remained relatively static, increasing by only 2% and have now started to fall. In 2025, the council responded to 24,748 reported fly-tips. For 2026 to date, there have been 10,590, suggesting a downward trend. If levels continue, we're going to be dropping,
Councillor Croft added.
The amended motion resolves to introduce new enforcement guidelines for APCOA with a focus on warnings for first-time offenders, commit to replacing the current heavy-handed policy with one focused on tackling large-scale fly-tippers, and instruct the Cabinet to develop alternative enforcement policies and review the APCOA contract.
New Enforcement Guidelines and Policies
The new enforcement guidelines for APCOA will focus on common sense, including warnings instead of fines for individual first time offenders,
and are to be published before the end of August. The current heavy-handed enforcement policy is set to be replaced with a new policy focused on tackling real, large-scale fly-tippers
before the end of the municipal year 26/27. The Cabinet has been instructed to draw up a list of alternative enforcement policies that shift focus away from revenue generation and towards tackling the large-scale fly-tippers who blight the borough, to be presented to full council no later than November 2026.
Councillor Croft stated that the proposed increase in fly-tipping fines, up to £5,000, will be reserved only for fly tipping criminals on a large scale. On large fly tipping. Only the other day I visited Bedfont pits, which is a similar situation with really criminal activity with huge fly tips, and we do need to get a handle on that to improve the lives of residents.
Enforcement alone will not deliver the required reduction in fly tipping. Ongoing education, engagement and the provision of convenient disposal routes remain essential to changing behaviour, supporting residents to dispose of waste correctly and reducing repeated incidents over time. Councillor Pamela Rodriguez mentioned, We are also introducing community reuse and recycling days. These pop-up tips will travel to each local neighbourhood, giving residents the opportunity to dispose their household items, and preventing them from ending up in the landfill.
APCOA Contract Review
A full review of the council's current contract with APCOA is also committed to, to ensure better targeting of large-scale offenders. The council's approach to enforcement is based on three linked objectives: Firstly, keeping streets clean and public spaces clean. Deterring deliberate dumping. These are criminals, the places that both both councillors have talked about today, real hotspots where there are criminal dumping going on. And we want to support residents to dispose of waste correctly. And loads of the initiatives that we're bringing forward now are designed to do that.
For more details on the council's plans, refer to the Public reports pack for Tuesday 21 July 2026.
