Fly-tipping conference will be 'first of its kind'

A "first of its kind" conference is being held to tackle fly-tipping in Kent, the county council says.

Kent County Council (KCC) is hosting the event on Friday to bring together councils, enforcement agencies, landowners and the waste industry to take coordinated action.

KCC leader Linden Kemkaran said: "Fly-tipping is more than an environmental nuisance, it is illegal behaviour that scars neighbourhoods, damages our countryside and places a real financial burden on the people of Kent."

The council processed about 2,500 tonnes of fly-tipped waste in 2024-25 at a cost of about £345,000, it said.

Kemkaran added: "Every time waste is dumped, council taxpayers end up paying for its safe removal and disposal, which takes money away from services communities rely on.

"When fly‑tipping is allowed to persist in the same places, there is a real risk it becomes normalised.

"That is unacceptable for residents who take pride in where they live, and it sends the wrong message to those who think they can dump waste without consequence."

KCC said it would use the outcomes of the conference to shape its future action and partnership working.

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