Southend-on-Sea City Council has successfully obtained a government grant to fund an ambitious campaign targeting fly-tipping hotspots across the city.
Using data collected over the past year, the council has identified 10 key areas most in need of intervention.
In partnership with Veolia, the council will install visible cameras and anti-fly-tipping signs in these hotspots. Additionally, there will be face-to-face engagement with residents in these areas to promote responsible waste disposal.
Recognising that these are not the only areas affected by fly-tipping, the council will use this scheme as a pilot to test the effectiveness of using cameras. If successful, the use of cameras may be expanded to other areas in the future.
As part of the grant agreement, the campaign will also include public art installations to raise awareness about proper waste disposal. This includes repurposing one of the elephant statues from last year's Herd In the City art trail, featuring messages reminding residents to dispose of waste responsibly.
The goal is to deter fly-tipping and improve the appearance of these locations. The council and Veolia will monitor the sites before and after the campaign to assess its effectiveness.
Councillor Lydia Hyde, cabinet member for climate, environment, and waste, said: "We are committed to improving the streets and tackling fly-tipping. This proactive pilot campaign is just one of several measures being implemented.
"Other actions we are considering include introducing a new enforcement team to issue fines to offenders and making it easier for residents to submit evidence of fly-tipping. The council is also exploring ways to help residents dispose of waste responsibly, including the possibility of a free bulky waste service."
Ilana Shaw, general manager for Veolia Southend-on-Sea, said: "We are excited to support Southend-on-Sea City Council on this innovative campaign to tackle fly-tipping. At Veolia, we are proud to work with the community to make the city a cleaner and greener place for all."
"Our teams will be regularly monitoring the selected locations to assess the success of the campaign and we hope that this combined use of education and enforcement will show long-lasting benefits for the local environment."
For more information about fly-tipping, including frequently asked questions, visit our fly-tipping page.