Sunderland among England’s worst for fly-tipping, study finds

What was once seen as an occasional nuisance has now become a deeply entrenched problem in many parts of the country.

Experts say the issue is being driven by a mix of rising disposal costs, confusion around waste rules, and a lack of enforcement that allows repeat offenders to act with little fear of consequences.

While councils struggle with shrinking budgets and overstretched enforcement teams, fly-tipping hotspots are emerging in both rural beauty spots and post-industrial towns, revealing stark regional inequalities in how waste crime is tackled.

A new study by the research team at cartridgesave.co.uk has revealed which English cities are experiencing the highest levels of fly-tipping when measured against population size, shedding light on where the problem is most severe.

Sunderland ranks seventh in the country, recording 575 fly-tipping incidents per 10,000 people.

While the city has vibrant neighbourhoods and busy areas, illegal dumping is most common on quieter residential streets and outskirts, where offenders often think they won’t get caught.

The top 10 includes Durham, Lancaster, Rotherham, and Barnsley, which all see between 637 and 709 incidents per 10,000 people.

Walsall, Sunderland, Rochdale, Salford, and Oldham make up the rest of the top 10.

These are a mix of smaller cities and former industrial towns, all dealing with the same problem. It’s clear that illegal dumping is happening all over England, no matter where you are.

Ian Cowley, expert at Cartridge Save, commented on the study’s findings: “What’s really worrying is that fly-tipping has become normalised in certain parts of England.

"People see dumped waste and assume it’s acceptable, or that someone else will deal with it.

"At the same time, rising disposal costs and rogue waste carriers are making it easier for household rubbish to end up on roadsides instead of at licensed facilities.

“Without meaningful penalties and consistent checks on waste carriers, the same offenders will keep dumping illegally.

"Councils need better funding for enforcement, clearer communication on legal disposal options, and tougher action against unlicensed operators.

"Until that happens, fly-tipping will remain cheaper and easier than doing the right thing.”

“Households should always check that a waste carrier is licensed. If your rubbish is dumped illegally, you can still be held responsible.

"Tackling fly-tipping requires accountability at every level, from government policy down to individual decisions.”

List of the top 20 English cities dumping the most illegal waste: