England’s Hazardous Fly-Tipping Hotspots Revealed
England’s fly-tipping problem is widespread, and in some areas, it’s becoming dangerous.
There were 1,257,863 incidents of illegal waste dumping in England in 2024/25, roughly one every 25 seconds. While most of these involve general waste, a proportion includes hazardous materials such as asbestos, chemicals, and clinical waste.
Analysis of Defra data by our team reveals where this type of illegal dumping is most concentrated and which areas face the highest risk.
Key findings at a
glance
- 215,000+ incidents involve hazardous waste types such as asbestos, chemicals, and clinical materials
- Haringey ranks as England’s top hazardous fly-tipping hotspot, with 17.62 incidents per 10,000 people
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk records the highest share of hazardous waste, at 14.53% of all incidents
- Liverpool reports the highest total number of hazardous incidents, with 489 cases
- 12 local authorities recorded zero hazardous fly-tipping incidents in 2024/25
Chemical waste is the most commonly fly-tipped hazardous material, followed by asbestos
England’s hazardous fly-tipping
hotspots
When adjusted for population, several areas stand out for the frequency and concentration of hazardous waste incidents.
1. Haringey (London)
- 16,915 total incidents
- 465 hazardous incidents
- 17.62 per 10,000 people (highest in England)
Haringey ranks first due to its high rate per capita. The majority of hazardous cases involve asbestos (363 incidents) and chemical waste (102 incidents).
2. King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (East)
- 1,831 total incidents
- 266 hazardous incidents
- 14.53% of all incidents (highest proportion)
- 17.03 per 10,000 people
This area stands out for the share of hazardous waste, with chemical waste making up the majority of cases.
3. Richmond upon Thames (London)
- 5,611 total incidents
- 308 hazardous incidents
- 15.66 per 10,000 people
All recorded hazardous waste in this area relates to chemical materials, including oil and fuel dumping.
4. Westmorland and Furness (North West)
- 1,546 total incidents
- 282 hazardous incidents
- 18.24% of all incidents
- 12.25 per 10,000 people
Despite relatively low overall volumes, the high percentage of hazardous waste places it among the most concerning areas.
5. Rochford (East)
- 665 total incidents
- 91 hazardous incidents
- 13.68% hazardous
- 10.13 per 10,000 people
6. Spelthorne (South East)
- 1,182 total incidents
- 104 hazardous incidents
- 9.71 per 10,000 people
7. Liverpool (North West)
- 20,300 total incidents
- 489 hazardous incidents (highest total)
- 9.61 per 10,000 people
Liverpool records the highest number of hazardous fly-tipping incidents overall, reflecting its scale and population.
8. Chichester (South East)
- 816 total incidents
- 107 hazardous incidents
- 13.11% hazardous
9. Hart (South East)
- 1,414 total incidents
- 77 hazardous incidents
- 7.46 per 10,000 people
10. Hackney (London)
- 31,042 total incidents
- 175 hazardous incidents
- 6.56 per 10,000 people
Hackney records a high total number of incidents but a lower proportion of hazardous waste than other areas.
What makes these areas stand
out?
The data highlights three key patterns:
High population vs high concentration
- Urban areas like Liverpool and Hackney report the highest total volumes
- Smaller authorities such as King’s Lynn and West Norfolk show higher proportions and intensity
Hazardous waste as a percentage of total
- Some areas see hazardous waste making up over 10-18% of all fly-tipping incidents
- This suggests a disproportionate presence of higher-risk materials
Regional spread
- Hotspots are not limited to one region
- London, the South East, East of England, and the North West all feature prominently
Which areas reported no
hazardous waste?
Twelve local authorities recorded zero hazardous fly-tipping incidents in 2024/25:
- Adur
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Exeter
- Folkestone and Hythe
- Forest of Dean
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Isles of Scilly
- South Tyneside
- St Helens
- Tameside
- Tower Hamlets
- Wyre Forest
Notably, the Isles of Scilly recorded zero fly-tipping incidents of any kind.
Breakdown by hazardous waste
type
Asbestos
Asbestos remains one of the most concerning materials due to its health risks and strict handling requirements.
- Haringey recorded 363 asbestos incidents, the highest among all authorities
- Even small volumes can pose serious risks when disturbed
Clinical waste
Clinical waste appears less frequently but carries significant health implications.
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 25 incidents involving clinical materials
- These may include items such as medical waste or sharps
Chemical waste
Chemical materials, including oil, fuel, and drums, make up the largest share of hazardous fly-tipping.
- Richmond upon Thames recorded 308 chemical-related incidents, with no asbestos or clinical cases
- These materials can contaminate soil and water systems if not handled correctly
Why hazardous fly-tipping is a
growing concern
All fly-tipping damages the environment and local communities, but hazardous waste presents additional risks.
Mark Hall, Director at Business Waste, explains:
The bigger picture
For businesses, this data reinforces the importance of compliant waste management.
- Businesses have a legal duty of care to ensure waste is handled correctly
- Using unlicensed or unreliable waste carriers increases the risk of illegal dumping
- Hazardous waste requires specialist collection, documentation, and disposal processes
Even when waste is handed to a third party, responsibility does not disappear. If waste is traced back to a business, they can still face enforcement action.
England’s fly-tipping problem is already significant, but this data shows that in some areas, volume issues are compounded by an additional risk.
While hazardous waste represents a smaller share of total incidents, its impact is far greater. As regulations tighten and disposal requirements become more complex, ensuring waste is handled correctly will remain critical for both businesses and local communities.
Methodology
Data was sourced from Defra’s 2024/25 fly-tipping statistics.
- Hazardous incidents include clinical, asbestos, and chemical waste types
- Figures were analysed as:
- Total incidents
- Percentage of total fly-tipping
- Incidents per 10,000 population
- Rankings are based on hazardous incidents per capita to allow fair comparison between local authorities
View the full data set here.
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