Redbridge Council fly-tipping initiative cleans up at national awards

Redbridge Council has scooped a top national award from one of the UK's leading environmental charities.

Keep Britain Tidy announced the borough's Neighbourhoods and Streetscene Team as an award winner in the charity's Network Awards 2021, held online on Wednesday, 3 February.

The Redbridge team were thrilled to discover they had beaten competition from around the country to win the coveted Outstanding Service Delivery award, which recognised their successful work tackling a rise in fly-tipping across the borough between March and June 2020, when the first wave of the pandemic hit.

Despite having to find new ways of working to navigate COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, the team quickly rose to the challenge and under the initiative 'Synergy in Civic Pride: One big challenge. One brilliant Team' they put in place a range of measures to combat fly-tipping.

The award acknowledged the team's innovative efforts including:

• developing and delivering online workshops for residents on reducing waste and how to dispose of it legally and properly
• joint operations between enforcement and street cleansing teams to ensure fly-tips are investigated and cleared simultaneously, resulting in a streamlined service with faster clear-ups and increased enforcement action against those making a mess in the borough
• a new litter picking service in hotspots
• 200 percent average increase in penalty notices issued due to improved intelligence and faster investigation
• a hard-hitting illegal dumping campaign ran across fly-tipping hotspots in the borough. The campaign provided educational videos for residents and highlighted the negative impact and legal consequences of dumping rubbish on the borough's streets
• delivering inspiring community initiatives in line with COVID restrictions to help local people improve their neighbourhoods' green spaces and discourage fly-tipping

 Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride Cllr Jo Blackman said: "I couldn't be happier for the team. It's a thoroughly deserved win and testament to the great work being carried out by our Neighbourhoods and Streetscene team to continue addressing the issues important to our residents. Despite the pandemic, our staff have been delivering real results, cleaning up our streets and working with local people to improve our environment."

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, commented: "Congratulations to our Neighbourhoods and Streetscene team on winning this top award. Throughout the pandemic, we have had to find new and innovative ways to support local people, preserve our environment and prevent criminal behaviour like fly-tipping. I'm proud of how council staff have delivered in these challenging times."

The Keep Britain Tidy Network Awards reward and recognise excellence and innovation in improving local environmental quality. This year, there was an emphasis on maintaining key services in response to the coronavirus pandemic.