Since 2019, councils have had the authority to issue FPNs for fly-tipping, and the maximum amount that a person can be fined depends on the council. Barratt Homes asked councils across the UK how many fixed penalty notices they issued between the dates of 25th December – 29th January (a five-week period), in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. With 16 councils responding, Barratt Homes then ranked them and offered tips on how to navigate Londoners’ recycling habits.

The London Borough of Ealing issued the most fines when it came to fly-tipping offences

The London Borough of Ealing Council issued 813 FPNs (Fixed Penalty Notices) for fly-tipping over a five-week period from 25th December – 29th January in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. The FOI (Freedom of Information) request also revealed that in the five-week period between 25th December 2019 and 29th January 2020, the council issued the most fines at a total of 442. The smallest number of fines (371) were issued from December 2020-January 2021. Each fine was issued at £150, giving a total of £121,950. Only 429 out of 831 FPNs were paid on time.

Across the three periods, The London Borough of Haringey Council issued 126 FPNs. This included 19 between 2019-2020, 53 between 2020-2021, and 54 between the dates of 2021-2022. The total amount of these FPNs was £50,400. All FPNs were issued at £400. Only 61 of these fines were paid on time across the three periods.

The London Borough of Hillingdon Council issued 104 FPNs, totalling up to £41,600. 15 fines were issued in 2020, whereas this saw an increase to 89 fines being issued in 2021. Each fine was £400 each totalling £41,600. In 2020, 10 of these fines were paid within 10 days, with two being paid at the final warning stage. In 2021, 75 fines were paid within 10 days, and the remaining 14 were paid at the final warning stage. 

The London Borough of Wandsworth issued 104 fines over the dates given – 23 in 2019, 54 in 2020, and 27 in 2021. All fines were issued at £400 each. Altogether, the total value of FPNs was £41,600, the exact same amount as Hillingdon. In 2019, 11 of these fines were paid on time, in 2020 19 were paid on time, and eight were paid on time in 2021. 

The London Borough of Bexley Council issued 197 FPNs over the five-week periods following Christmas 2019, 2020 and 2021. FPNs under the s87 (Environmental Protection Act 1990) were set at £150 reduced to £100 if paid within 10 days, and FPNs under the s33 (Environmental Protection Act 1990) were set at £400 with no reduction. The FOI did not reveal how much each fine cost, nor it did reveal how many of these fines were paid on time.

The London Borough of Islington Council issued 135 fines across two periods. From 2019-2020, 66 fines were issued. In 2021-2022, 69 fines were issued. However, in the 2020-2021 period, there were no fines issued. In 2019-2020, £6,600 were issued in fines, and in 2021-2022 this was £9,950, totalling up to £16,550. No information was held as to whether or not these fines were paid on time.

The London Borough of Lambeth issued 41 FPNs during the time periods requested. 17 fines were issued in the 2019-2020 period, and 24 in the 2021-2022 period. Each fine was issued at £400, totalling £16,400. The London Borough of Lambeth Council does not hold information as to whether or not each fine was paid on time.