A council has been spending tens of thousands of pounds every year clearing up fly-tipped waste, new figures show. Gedling Borough Council says fly-tipping is a serious offence that damages the environment, endangers wildlife, and costs taxpayers huge sums of money each year in clean-up operations.

The council says residents should make sure anyone removing waste from their property has a valid waste carriers' licence. According to new figures, the number of fly-tipping incidents peaked at more than 450 in the final quarter of 2022/23, but has since fallen to just under 100 over the same period in the financial year ending March 31, 2025.

In the last quarter of 2022/23, costs reached £25,000, before peaking in the final quarter of 2023/24 at just over £25,000. In the final quarter of 2024/25, costs were just under £20,000, despite fewer collections.

The council says it has a target of clearing 98 per cent of fly-tips within 10 working days of a report. In 2025/26, which is the current financial year, at the end of the first quarter the target was missed slightly with collection rates of 94.54 percent. However, the council says that since 2023/24 the rate has not fallen below 96 percent.

"Fly-tipping is enforced and investigated through public protection," the council says. Fly-tipping is incredibly difficult to investigate as deposits are made in locations with limited surveillance and unless the incident is witnessed or evidence is found within the litter which identifies an individual, often investigation will not progress."

The data is due to be discussed at a scrutiny committee meeting on Monday (September 29).

Fly-tipping incidents collected/costs (note, figures are to the nearest perceived number based off graph data provided)

2022/23

Quarter 1: ~ 225/£12,000

Quarter 2: ~300/£15,225

Quarter 3 : ~225/£12,500

Quarter 4: ~ 450/£25,000

2023/24

Quarter 1: ~ 350/£18,000

Quarter 2: ~ 260/£13,000

Quarter 3 : ~ 260/£17,000

Quarter 4: ~375/£25,500

2024/25

Quarter 1: ~ 210/£15,500

Quarter 2: ~75/£7,000

Quarter 3 : ~ 25/£2,000

Quarter 4: ~ 90/£18,000