Redbridge fly-tip patrols close in on ‘grime-crime’ culprits

It comes as part of the borough’s tough stance against those guilty of ‘grime-crimes’.

Redbridge Council enforcement officers have joined forces with street cleansing workers to tackle dumping hotspots in the south of the borough.

Piles of waste are investigated by enforcement officers to trace them back to the culprits before the street cleansing crews clear them away.

Fly-tipped items found include cushions, a large fan, metal bin and cardboard boxes – all causing obstructions to pedestrians and creating neighbourhood eyesores.

One company that dumped 16 bags of builders’ waste in Thompson Close, Ilford, has been issued a £400 fine after being identified by enforcement officers.

Officers are examining evidence to identify more culprits for the rest of the fly-tipping found.

Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety said: “Dumping rubbish and wrecking our environment is a criminal offence, and we won’t tolerate it as a community. 

“It brings our borough down. We all have a responsibility to keep Redbridge clean and tidy by disposing of our rubbish properly.

“Our enforcement officers and street cleansing teams are working hard to clear up rubbish and catch those responsible, but we’re also calling on our local communities to take a stand against fly-tipping by reporting it, and by helping us to identify culprits from our Redbridge Wall of Shame.”

The Redbridge Wall of Shame posts footage of fly-tippers caught in the act of dumping rubbish on the streets of Redbridge and has played a large part in rallying the support of people to fight the waste issue.

Elisa Piccaro from South Woodford said: “It’s our neighbourhood. We need to take care of it as a community. It’s not just down to the council.

“The problem is the people making the mess. There is so much education and information around getting rid of rubbish.

“Even if you just google it, lots of options come up so I don’t understand why people are leaving their rubbish on the street. It’s a really selfish thing to do.”

Witnesses of fly-tips are urged to report it to the council’s report it page at https://my.redbridge.gov.uk/reportit/fly-tip.

The council has pledged to clear all recorded fly-tips on council land and highway within 24 hours of it being reported.