Fly tipping remains a serious problem across England, with 1.26 million incidents recorded in 2024/25, a 9% increase on the previous year.
Household waste made up 62% of these cases, showing how important targeted awareness campaigns are to tackle illegal dumping.*
To address this in Vicarage Ward, Veolia and Watford Borough Council delivered a targeted campaign over the summer that led to a nearly 30% reduction in reported fly tips compared to the same period last year.
The campaign used the same distinctive approach previously delivered in Callowland and Central Wards in 2024 and 2025. Staged installations, including warning posters and crime scene tape, were set up around existing instances of illegally dumped waste at six fly tipping hotspots across Vicarage Ward to highlight instances of illegally dumped waste. They reminded residents that fly tipping is a criminal offence and those responsible can face enforcement action.
The ‘crime scenes’ were moved between locations throughout the six-week campaign, drawing attention to different areas and educating residents on ways to dispose of waste correctly and report fly tipping.
Letters were also sent to every household in the Vicarage Ward featuring handwritten messages from local schoolchildren. Their words demonstrated the impact of fly tipping through the eyes of those growing up in the community.
Residents are encouraged to report fly tips online at watford.gov.uk/clean-streets/dumped-rubbish-flytipping for Veolia’s teams to clear.
Darren Harding, Regional Manager at Veolia, said: “Fly tipping has a real impact on the communities we serve, so it is encouraging to see a nearly 30% reduction in reported incidents in Vicarage Ward following our campaign. By working with residents and raising awareness of the consequences of fly tipping, we can help prevent waste from being dumped illegally. “We will continue to work in partnership with Watford Borough Council and local communities to tackle this issue so we can keep our streets clean and safe for everyone.”
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Fly-tipping is a problem we take seriously, and it’s important that we do everything we can to prevent it from happening in our neighbourhoods. Nobody wants to see rubbish dumped on their doorstep or in their local streets and parks. “It’s great to see that the campaign in Vicarage Ward has helped reduce reported fly-tipping by nearly 30%. Working with Veolia to raise awareness and encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly is an important part of tackling the problem. “I’d encourage residents to report any fly-tipping they see so that it can be cleared and we can take action against those responsible.”
