Sheffield recorded 11,387 fly-tipping incidents in 2022/23. Despite a slight decline, illegal dumping remains a persistent issue, prompting the council to develop a new strategy.

The Waste & Street Scene Policy Committee acknowledges that “fly-tipping is a costly and unsightly blight on communities”. 

A new high-profile strategy and delivery plan is being developed to tackle the issue.

The council emphasised: “There are no excuses for fly-tipping as our waste service provision is very comprehensive so we should have a zero tolerance to it.”

A slight decline from 12,366 in 2021/22 was achieved, however while improvements have been made, illegal dumping remains a persistent problem across the city.

One long-standing hotspot is an empty plot of land on Northumberland Road, next to the University Gym, which has been a target for fly-tipping and trash dumping for over a decade.

Sheffield City Council and the Environment Agency were contacted for comment but did not respond before publication.

Alfie Heafield, 18, who lives in Endcliffe and regularly passes the site, said: “It ruins the aesthetic of Sheffield.

“I feel like Endcliffe is quite clean, but when I walk to the gym, it makes me feel Sheffield loses its aesthetics.”

Beyond being eyesore, fly-tipping has detrimental impacts on the environment, dumped waste can pollute the soil, harm wildlife and natural habitats. 

Some of the most common materials discarded are electronics and plastics, which are non-biodegradable, meaning they will remain in the environment for hundreds of years.

Nationally, the problem is on the rise too, the UK saw a 6 per cent increase in fly-tipping incidents from 2022/23 to 2023/24, putting further pressure on councils and environmental agencies to tackle the issue more effectively.

While attempts have been made to address the epidemic of fly tipping across the nation, councils need to put more in place to further reduce this issue. 

Local forums frequently report fly-tipping incidents here on Northumberland Road, with one anonymous post stating: “Has been reported several times over the last few months. 

“No one seems to be doing anything.”

Sheffield has reduced it’s rates by approximately 7.9 per cent.