The District Council, who is supporting the Essex County Council campaign with local Essex councils to tackle fly tipping – has made successful bid for government funding to further this important cause. The bid has been approved for a new multi-agency project in the Epping Forest district to tackle the growing issue of fly-tipping and environmental crime.

The Safer Streets funding of £50,653, combined with an additional £28,233 from Epping Forest District Council, and support from the City of London Corporation, will enable a comprehensive approach to address fly-tipping and other related anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.

This collaborative project will bring together teams from Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) and the City of London Corporation (COL), which manages Epping Forest as a charitable trust, to create a robust response to environmental crime.

The funding will support a variety of initiatives including:

• Enhanced joint training
• Co-ordinated patrols
• Deployment of CCTV and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to detect and deter fly-tippers
• Co-ordinated patrols with Essex Police, COL and EFDC officers
• Raise awareness of suitable waste disposal

The project aims to reduce fly-tipping by creating a deterrent for fly-tippers while addressing other issues such as anti-social behaviour, drug-related offences, dangerous driving and littering.

In 2022/2023, local authorities across England dealt with 1.8 million fly-tipping incidents costing more than £13.3 million in clean-up efforts. The Epping Forest district has not been immune to this crisis, with statistics showing 2,476 fly-tips being reported in 2023/2024, marking an increase of 9% from previous years.

And in Epping Forest alone, where the City of London Corporation is responsible for fly-tipping removal, there were over 300 incidents between 2022/2023. Clearing litter and waste from the forest costs the Epping Forest charity 10% of its annual budget.

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act (1990) and carries fines of up to £50,000 or even imprisonment.

Find out how to ensure your rubbish is not fly tipped in Essex, and how to report fly tipping incidents:

Find out more at Love Essex