Sandwell Council boosts recycling investment and cracks down on fly-tipping
New recycling hubs and tougher enforcement aim to make responsible waste disposal easier and illegal dumping harder
Sandwell Council is stepping up efforts to help residents recycle and dispose of waste responsibly, while taking firm action against fly-tipping and other waste-related offences across the borough.
The council is investing in a range of practical initiatives designed to make correct waste disposal more accessible and convenient.
Plans include the introduction of pop-up recycling hubs, the installation of additional street bins, and the expansion of the Recycling Support Officer team to provide more face-to-face advice and assistance to households.
Alongside these supportive measures, the council is strengthening enforcement activity. New CCTV cameras will be installed at known fly-tipping hotspots, and additional officers will focus on tracing offenders and taking appropriate legal action.
Since October 2025, enforcement action has led to 20 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) being issued for littering, fly-tipping and breaches of the Householder’s Duty of Care, totalling £12,200 in fines. Half of these notices were issued to residents who used unlicensed waste removal firms, in breach of their legal responsibilities.
In addition, six cases are currently pending prosecution, either due to non-payment of fixed penalty notices or because of serious offences committed. Fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping in Sandwell stand at £1,000.
The council has made clear that fly-tipping and illegal waste activity will not be tolerated, as it continues to combine prevention, education and enforcement to protect the borough’s environment.
Councillor Keith Allcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways at Sandwell Council, said:
“The positive results from the recent changes to household waste collections show us that most people in Sandwell do the right thing when it comes to recycling and waste disposal, and that there is no evidence of these changes affecting fly-tipping rates.
“However, fly-tipping in Sandwell remains too high, harms our communities and costs taxpayers’ money, so we are investing in a dedicated team focused solely on fly-tip investigation and enforcement.”