Ashington Sees Strong Results from Fly Tipping Crackdown
Ashington has seen significant enforcement action in the fight against fly tipping in the first six months of the crackdown on fly tipping with 69 cases being investigated and progressed as part of Northumberland County Council's enhanced programme on illegal waste dumping.
The results demonstrate strong collaboration between Ashington Town Council and Northumberland County Council in tackling fly tipping in one of the county's identified hotspot areas, with almost 70% of investigated cases resulting in either fines of up to £1,000 or prosecution proceedings.
Strong Enforcement Results
The enforcement action delivered impressive results in these first 6 months, with July and August figures expected to reveal similar:
- 17 Fixed Penalty Notices issued at the increased rate of £1,000 (with 7 paid at the reduced rate of £750 for early payment)
- 20 prosecution files submitted to court for either failure to pay fines or cases deemed serious enough for immediate prosecution
- 15 ongoing investigations currently being pursued
- 6 warning letters issued - representing less than 10% of cases
This robust approach shows that of the 69 cases investigated and progressed between November 2024 and June 2025 , almost 70% are resulting in significant financial penalties or court action, sending a clear message to those caught fly tipping that illegal dumping will not be tolerated.
Enhanced CCTV Surveillance Proving Effective
The council's investment in doubling CCTV resources in hotspot areas is paying dividends, with 69 individual incidents progressing to enforcement action through enhanced surveillance capabilities.
Message to Residents: Take Responsibility
Council leaders are emphasising three key messages to Ashington residents:
Be Responsible About Your Waste - Ensure household waste is disposed of properly through official collection services or at designated disposal sites.
Be Vigilant When Employing Waste Carriers - Always check that anyone you hire to remove waste is properly licensed and will dispose of it legally. You remain responsible for your waste even after someone else takes it away.
Respect Where You Live - Fly tipping damages our community environment and costs taxpayers money to clean up. Everyone has a role to play in keeping Ashington clean and tidy.
Targeting Problem Areas
The enforcement action has focused on known problem areas in Ashington, where household waste - particularly furniture and white goods - has been repeatedly dumped in residential streets and back lanes.
Increased Penalties Send Strong Message
As part of the county-wide crackdown, Fixed Penalty Notices for fly tipping have increased from £400 to £1,000 (or £750 if paid within 7 days). Additionally, penalties for household waste duty of care offences have risen from £400 to £600 (or £450 if paid within 10 days).
Northumberland County Council has set an ambitious target of reducing fly tipping incidents by 20% from the 2023/24 baseline by the end of 2025/26, significantly more challenging than the previous 5% target.
Where fines are not paid, court action is being taken, and cases are now progressing to court with around five heard each month. The recent report in the Northumberland Gazette covers some local prosecutions.
Fly-tipping crackdown: Northumberland County Council report 18% drop and five prosecutions
Community Partnership Approach
While enforcement remains a priority, Ashington Town Council continues to work in partnership with Northumberland County Council to promote awareness and encourage community-led solutions to the fly tipping problem.
Residents are encouraged to report fly tipping incidents and to work together to keep their neighbourhoods clean and safe.
Ashington Town Council is committed to working with partners to tackle fly tipping and keep our town clean. For more information about proper waste disposal or to report fly tipping, contact Northumberland County Council.
