Colchester had a record level of fly-tipping last year, new figures reveal.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures reveal there were 2,824 fly-tipping incidents in Colchester in the year to March 2022 – up from 2,357 the year before and the highest figure since records began in 2012-13.

However there have been 1,794 incidents of fly-tipping so far in 2022/23.

Colchester Council said the April to June 2021/22 period was “heavily impacted” by Covid restrictions, while fly-tipping is “always seasonal”.

The authority issued a total of 77 fines related to fly-tipping.

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Martin Goss, Colchester councillor responsible for waste, said: “Whilst the number of fly-tipping incidents appear to have fallen over the past year compared to the previous year, the 2021-22 figures for Colchester were nonetheless disappointing.

“We will continue to take robust action against those responsible for fly-tips but depend greatly on the public's help when it comes to disposing of their waste responsibly and reporting any fly-tipping incidents.

“All fly-tips are searched and investigated and often lead to successful prosecutions or fines.

"If any evidence is found at a fly-tip by a member of public, they should not touch it but report it for investigation to their local neighbourhood team, details of which can be found on the council’s website.

“If fly-tipping occurs on private land, the landowner is responsible for its removal and any information about the incident should be reported to the police on their 101 number.

“I can only reiterate our steadfast commitment to tackling this problem and assure everybody that the council will continue to take very tough action against anyone found fly-tipping in our historic city and the surrounding countryside.”

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