Kent County Council has committed £250,000 to a partnership with district councils, Kent Police and the Environment Agency to tackle illegal waste dumping across the county.
Working under the Kent Resource Partnership, the £250,000 pledge will fund coordinated enforcement across district and borough councils, Kent Police and the Environment Agency. Nearly 25,000 fly-tipping incidents were recorded across Kent and Medway in a recent year, according to the partnership.
Gravesham Borough Council alone launched 504 investigations in the financial year ending March 2025 and issued 124 Fixed Penalty Notices between April 2024 and March 2025, according to the council. Maidstone Borough Council has also run a joint operation with Kent Police — branded “Don’t Mess with Maidstone” — targeting waste carriers and illegal dumpers.
Kent Police advises residents not to touch dumped rubbish themselves. Concealed sharps and hazardous items are the risk. Both fly-tipping and discarded drug-related equipment should be reported through the antisocial behaviour reporting route. For large-scale or organised dumping, the Environment Agency is the right call; for everyday incidents, your local council.
Key information
- Report fly-tipping to your local district or borough council for ordinary dumping incidents
- Large-scale or organised waste dumping should be reported to the Environment Agency
- Do not remove dumped rubbish yourself — Kent Police warns of the risk of concealed sharp or dangerous items
- Check waste carriers are licensed before paying anyone to remove rubbish on your behalf