Kent County Council to host pioneering fly tipping conference
Collaboration aims to combat waste crime and enhance enforcement
Kent County Council (KCC) plans to hold the county's first-ever fly tipping conference on 10th July, targeting waste crime and improving coordination among key stakeholders.
The conference will bring together councils, enforcement agencies, landowners, and the waste industry to address fly tipping, a significant problem for Kent’s streets, countryside, and public spaces.
Fly tipping weighs heavily on local services while frustrating residents due to repeated offences in certain hotspots.
In 2024/25, KCC processed approximately 2,500 tonnes of fly-tipped waste, costing around £345,000.
The event aims to enhance joint working among organisations involved in waste collection, disposal, and prosecution, improving consistency across the system.
Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council, emphasises the urgency of tackling fly tipping.
“Fly tipping is more than an environmental nuisance – it is illegal behaviour that scars neighbourhoods, damages our countryside and places a real financial burden on the people of Kent. Every time waste is dumped, council taxpayers end up paying for its safe removal and disposal, which takes money away from services communities rely on," Kemkaran said.
She stressed the risk of normalisation when fly tipping continues unabated.
“Tackling this problem properly means recognising that responsibility sits across the whole system. Different organisations collect waste, dispose of it, investigate offences and bring prosecutions – and by working together more effectively, we can make a stronger, more positive difference for our communities," Kemkaran added.
She envisions the conference as a platform for coordinated leadership.
“This conference is about strong, collective leadership. By bringing partners together, we can amplify the work already underway, share intelligence and agree practical actions that strengthen enforcement, disrupt repeat offending and reduce the cost and harm of fly tipping across Kent," she said.
The outcomes will guide future partnerships and coordinated actions throughout the county.