Medway Council has teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy for ‘Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight’, a new campaign to crack down on rogue ‘white van’ operators and protect communities from waste crime.
Fly-tipping costs councils across England millions of pounds every year in clean-up costs, draining money that could otherwise be spent on essential local services.
In Medway there were 5332 reported incidents of fly-tipping between April 2023 and March 2024, increasing the cost of cleaning our streets – which was around £4million for the last financial year.
The campaign calls on residents to protect themselves and their communities from falling for a #RubbishDeal – low-cost, unlicensed services offered on social media by organised waste criminals. Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight aims to shine a spotlight on rogue operators, who lure people in with cheap deals, only to illegally dump household waste on streets, fields and public spaces.
Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, said: “Fly-tipping is totally unacceptable, and it’s a crime where everyone who loves our local area is the victim.
“We’ll continue to enforce penalties for fly-tipping, but everyone has a role to play to help protect our community. If you pay someone to take away waste and they fly-tip it, the law says you are still responsible, so follow the guidance to avoid rogue operators and a potential fine.”
If you’re hiring someone to take your rubbish away, take these three simple steps to avoid inviting a criminal into your home:
1. Ask for a waste carrier registration number
2. Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register or call 0300 065 3000
3. Check you’ll get a receipt
Dr. Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Councils are on the frontline of the fight against fly-tipping, responding day in, day out to clear dumped waste and keep our public spaces safe and clean. We know how much pressure this puts on already stretched local teams and we’re incredibly grateful to Medway Council for joining forces with us for Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight.
“This campaign is about empowering residents to play their part in tackling this growing issue. By making simple checks before handing over waste and always getting a receipt, people can protect themselves from rogue traders, stop organised criminal networks in their tracks and help ensure public money is spent where it’s needed most.”
Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight runs from 10 – 23 November 2025, with local authorities across the country joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy to highlight the scale and impact of fly-tipping, educate residents on how to protect themselves and their communities.
Report local fly-tipping incidents at Medway.gov.uk/Flytipping.