Ealing’s Liberal Democrat councillors have launched a scathing attack on the borough’s Labour-led council over what they describe as an “epidemic” of fly-tipping, accusing it of failing residents with insufficient action and rejecting workable solutions.
At a recent council meeting, Councillor Connie Hersch, Lib Dem spokesperson for crime, anti-social behaviour, communities and culture, highlighted the scale of the problem, revealing that Ealing taxpayers are footing a £3 million bill annually to remove illegally dumped rubbish from across the borough.
Despite the hefty cost, Hersch criticised the council’s limited response, which she said relied heavily on fines and awareness campaigns, without addressing the root causes.
Councillor Hersch said: “Liberal Democrats have said that rubbish on our streets is not just unsightly but potentially hazardous. It also contributes to the impression of social decline in the neighbourhood.”
She added that while Ealing hands out more fly-tipping fines than any other London borough, a “carrot and stick” approach was needed, especially with over 60% of residents in the South-East of England reporting sightings of dumped waste.
The Liberal Democrats presented a package of concrete proposals to help residents and businesses dispose of waste responsibly and legally. These include placing at least one WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) deposit bin in every ward, promoting the Abbey Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre, and urgently resolving collection issues for flats above shops – a known fly-tipping hotspot.
Lib Dems have urged the council to review waste contracts for local businesses and to offer more accessible options for disposing of bulky household items, such as cheaper bulk collection services or providing community skips.
However, Labour councillors rejected the motion.
Councillor Hersch said: “Liberal Democrats have put forward several practical proposals, that have worked elsewhere in London, to address the epidemic of fly tipping but none have been accepted by the Ealing Labour party. It is a shame that Ealing Labour want to bury their heads in the sand and avoid listening to suggestions that work elsewhere.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS and responding to Ealing Liberal Democrats criticism, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Ealing Council is undertaking a vast amount of work to tackle fly-tipping together with our waste and recycling services.
“Last month we launched our ‘This is our home, not a tip’ campaign. We announced fly-tipping offences will now carry a £1,000 fine, more than double the previous amount of £400 sending a clear message: illegally dumping waste will not be tolerated.
“The council operates 750 CCTV cameras and fly tipping enforcement is carried out from the footage they collect where we hope to use the names of fly-tippers to name and shame them. We have dedicated fly tip investigators who investigate fly tipped material and take enforcement action.
“We issue more fines than any other London borough. We are carrying out extensive checks on businesses and since the campaign was launched we have issued 181 fines to fly-tippers.
“We have produced leaflets targeted to householders, flats, businesses, landlords and are running a social media and print campaign. By regularly publicising our enforcement activity, as well as raising awareness of what fly-tipping is, its impacts and how everyone can help by disposing of waste correctly and reporting fly-tipping, we expect to see a reduction in fly-tipping.”
