Plasnewydd named worst area for fly-tipping in Cardiff
Since January 2026, the council ward of Plasnewydd has received the most fines with 55
The Cardiff ward which has received the most litter and fly-tipping fines has been revealed.
A freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed the Cardiff hotspot for fly-tipping and littering fines this year.
Since January 2026, the council ward of Plasnewydd has received the most fines with 55, broken down from 21 in January, 21 in February, six in March and seven in April.
The ward with the second highest fines is Cathays, with 37
From these fines, the council collected £21,000 in January, £19,000 in February, £6,050 in March and £8,250 in April for a total of £53,300 since the beginning of the year.
Cllr Rodney Berman, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group said: “ As the council’s official opposition, we have long been critical of the Labour administration’s efforts in keeping our streets clean and tackling fly-tipping.
“Their policies have often made matters worse, such as by closing two household waste recycling centres (Wedal Road and Waungron Road), bringing in charges for bulky waste collections and introducing the red and blue recycling sacks which don’t seal properly so waste often spills out of them onto our streets and housing estates.
“Labour also haven’t prioritised street cleaning sufficiently in successive council budgets. Too much of the council’s day-to-day spending has been diverted to cover the cost of massively increased borrowing to fund big projects like building a new County Hall.
“Instead of money being spent on services that need it, like keeping our city clean, a significant amount of council tax payers’ cash is being spent on loan repayments.
“The council needs to put more attention into tackling fly-tipping. That’s something for which Liberal Democrat councillors have been arguing for a number of years.”
Cllr John Lancaster, the leader of the council’s Conservative group, questioned whether the decline in fines issued since January was a result of less litter in the city or because of fewer staff being available to carry out enforcement action.
He added: “Whatever the reason, with the Council trying to attract more visitors, it is vital that enforcement action is maintained in order to keep the city as clean and tidy as possible.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Cardiff has the highest recycling rate of any core city in the UK, and our recycling rate is improving year on year as we strive to meet Welsh Governments statutory 70% recycling target.
“Last year Cardiff reported its highest ever recycling and composting performance, and the new kerbside collection service has significantly improved the quality of recycling collected from residents’ homes.
“The two recycling centres at Bessemer Close and Lamby Way are operating below capacity, indicating that on current usage numbers, there is sufficient capacity to serve the people of Cardiff.
“The council recently carried out a restructure of its street cleansing service, which came into effect on 1 April. As part of this, we are increasing street cleansing standards across the city and upskilling staff to tackle issues relating to the improper presentation of waste, which is often ripped open and dispersed across Cardiff’s streets, causing litter.”
The spokesperson also stressed that council does not borrow money to fund frontline services; these are fully funded through the council’s revenue budget and that any borrowing to fund projects like the County Hall is separate as well as the further investment made to new recycling bins in the city centre.
They continued: “Our message to Cardiff residents is simple: by taking pride in our city and disposing of waste responsibly, we can all help create a cleaner, more welcoming Cardiff. Using the waste and recycling facilities provided, wherever you are, helps prevent litter and unnecessary clean-up costs.
“This means more council resources can be directed towards delivering essential services and improving outcomes for communities across the city.”
The full results broken by ward since January are:
- Adamsdown 19
- Butetown 3
- Caerau 9
- Canton 9
- Cathays 37
- Fairwater 1
- Gabalfa 2
- Grangetown 19
- Pentwyn 1
- Plasnewydd 55
- Rhiwbina 2
- Riverside 25
- Rumney 5
- Splott 14
- St Mellons 17
- Whitchurch 2
No fines were issued in the wards of Cyncoed, Ely,Heath, Lisvane and Thornhill, Llandaff, Llandaff North, Llanishen, Llanrumney, Pentyrch and St Fagans, Penylan, Radyr and Trowbridge since the beginning of the year.