City has region's highest rate of fly-tipping

The latest government statistics have revealed Peterborough has the highest number of fly-tipping incidents across the East of England.

The city council area had 46 incidents per 1,000 people. Luton was not far behind with 44 incidents per 1,000 people.

The national figures for 2023-2024 were released by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Peterborough City Council said the figures were "not a like-for-like comparison... [our] area includes urban and rural areas which historically have suffered from fly-tipping".

Angus Ellis, the council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said it was "fully committed" to tackling litter, listing recent measures it had introduced including new cameras in hotspots.

It had also "increased fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping offences to the maximum amount" and run a public awareness campaign.

"I would point out that although the council is sometimes criticised for fly-tipping in Peterborough it is not the authority committing the act itself," he said.

Government figures suggest illegal waste tipping costs the country £1bn a year.

Phil Davies, head of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime at the Environment Agency said organised criminal groups were targeting the waste industry and "wreaking havoc" on the environment.

By council area:

• Peterborough - 46 incidents per 1,000 people (10,128 incidents)
• Luton, Bedfordshire - 44 incidents per 1,000 people (10,194 incidents)
• West Northamptonshire - 38 incidents per 1,000 people (16,670 incidents)
• Norwich - 37 incidents per 1,000 people (5,392 incidents)
• Basildon, Essex - 32 incidents per 1,000 people (6,155 incidents)

Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra)

In February, Peterborough City Council introduced permits for its Fengate Household Recycling Centre in a bid to reduce the number of out-of-area visitors.

However, residents recently raised concerns it could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.

Harry Machin, chairman of Peterborough Litter Wombles Association, said fly-tipping had got worse since the group began in 2021.

Its volunteers regularly pick up lots of small fly-tips, including "bags of household waste, DIY materials, tyres, children's toys, mattresses, bedding" that are not included in the official statistics.

He also called for authorities to make it cheaper and easier for people to dispose of their bulky waste.

Other local authority districts that had high scores were:

• Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire - 24 incidents per 1,000 people (3,037 incidents)
• Ipswich, Suffolk - eight incidents per 1,000 people (1,220 incidents)
• Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire - 16 incidents per 1,000 people (3,078 incidents)
• Cambridge - 14 incidents per 1,000 people (2,176 incidents)
• Milton Keynes - 16 incidents per 1,000 people (4,824 incidents )
• Buckinghamshire - four incidents per 1,000 (4,272 incidents)

The Country Land and Business Association in the East, which represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses, said fly-tipping remained a "serious concern".

Regional director Cath Crowther said: "Farmers and landowners face having to clear waste dumped on their land at personal expense or face the risk of prosecution.

"Some are having to clear rubbish on a weekly basis and the costs of removing it can soon spiral.

"It is unjust for local authorities to threaten action against private landowners as it criminalises the victims of waste crime."

Adam Hug, environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: "Penalties handed down from prosecution fail to match the severity of the offence committed.

"We continue to urge the government to review sentencing guidelines for fly-tipping so that offenders are given bigger fines for more serious offences to act as a deterrent."

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.