Fly-tipping increased in Derby at a time when the council launched new schemes to help reduce it, a new report has revealed. Last year, Derby City Council’s Labour administration announced two big changes in terms of waste and recycling usage for city residents.
The first was to remove the booking system on Sundays at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Raynesway. The other was to have two weeks of free bulky waste collections across the city.
The latter service usually costs from around £36, but 500 free collections were introduced, on a first come first served basis, to help make Derby a cleaner city and to reduce fly-tipping. The collections proved popular and were quickly snapped up.
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A new report states: “In April 2024, the need to pre-book visits to the HWRC on Sundays was removed. At the same time, some changes were made to the bulky waste collection system to remove the charges for two weeks per year, available in April and September 2024. The intention being to make responsible waste disposal easier and to support a reduction in fly-tipping.”
But the report states that fly-tipping in 2024 actually increased during the two-week period in which the free bulky waste collections were held. It also states it cost the council more to deal with the waste.
It says: “In the six months that the free HWRC sessions have been in place and free bulky collections available (April to September 2024), the number of fly tips and the costs of dealing with them across Derby have increased.”
There were almost 700 more fly-tip incidents in Derby between April and September 2024 than in the same period during 2023. This meant the council paid almost £27,000 more in dealing with the fly-tips, it is estimated.
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Between April and September 2023, there were 2,883 fly-tip incidents in Derby. Between April and September 2024, there were 3,503 – an increase of just over 20 per cent. Estimated costs to manage the fly-tips were £167,570 in 2023 compared with £194,528 in 2024.
Recently, the council said it was trialling a new bulky waste collection voucher scheme in Sinfin and Osmaston. The council says this approach is more targeted to helping low-income families (often with no vehicle access), those who are socially isolated or vulnerable, including recently bereaved people, to dispose of their waste. Council officers are exploring ways to expand its reach and impact across the city.
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council cabinet member for Streetpride said: “In 2024 we offered free, bookable bulky waste collections during two limited periods: one week in April and another in September. This was a success, with all 500 available slots quickly reserved by households across all city wards. More recently, a voucher scheme was piloted, providing free bulky waste collections to those who are least able to afford them.
“Fly-tipping rates vary over time and it’s too early to say whether the recent increase is part of a national trend or something else. However, it is known that fly tipping is more prevalent in areas of deprivation, which is reflected in some parts of Derby. The targeted bulky waste voucher scheme represents a real opportunity to help those who need it, while reducing fly-tipping and preventing waste accumulation in the community.”
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