Fly-tipping down as much as 14% in South Holland and Boston, but ‘there’s still more to do’

Fly tipping reports have dropped an impressive 14% - but ‘there’s still more to do’.

South Holland District Council says these newly-released figures show its ongoing efforts to tackle the unsightly dumping of waste across the area is beginning to make a difference.

Throughout the 2024/25 financial year, a total of 1,751 incidents were reported, down from 2,027 in 2023/24.

While numbers remain higher than pre-2023 levels, this recent drop suggests that enforcement actions, community education, and improved reporting systems are starting to have a positive impact, the authority says.

“Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities, and we know there’s still more to do,” said Coun Antony Casson, SHDC’s portfolio holder for public protection.

“But this reduction is a step in the right direction.

“We’re grateful to residents who are helping by reporting incidents and disposing of waste responsibly.”

Meanwhile, fly-tipping is also down in the Borough of Boston, which includes villages such as Sutterton, Kirton, Wyberton, Algarkirk, Fosdyke and Bicker.

Boston Borough Council has recorded a 7% reduction in recorded fly-tipping incidents over the past 12 months, again bucking the national trend which saw overall reports increase across the country.

Between April 2024 and March 2025 the council logged 391 fewer incidents than the previous year.

One of the most notable improvements has been a significant drop in mattress dumping, with 359 mattresses collected compared to 516 the year before — the lowest number since 2021/22.

This encouraging shift is credited to strengthened relationships with local landlords, housing associations, and social housing partners.

Coun Callum Butler, portfolio holder for waste services, said: “This credit for this reduction lies with all the teams involved — from the council’s enforcement team to flyswat who collect the flytips.

“Residents have told us they’re noticing a difference, and now the figures back that up.

“Large-scale tips and mattresses are clearly on the decline, and even fly-tipping of bagged waste by bins is reducing thanks to the continued efforts of vital education in the community.”

The council also highlighted quicker response times and improved coordination with private landowners, supported by positive collaborations with the police and Environment Agency, as key factors in the year’s progress.

However, the data also revealed a substantial increase in textile-related fly-tipping, which has prompted the council to begin further investigation into the root causes of this rise.

Coun Butler added: “We still face challenges, especially around clothing and single-item dumping, but we are heading in the right direction and hopefully will continue to do so.

“A massive thank you to everyone, residents, officers, partners for playing your part in making Boston cleaner and safer.”

Residents of both areas are encouraged to report fly-tipping and dispose of their waste safely at their local household waste recycling centres.