People caught fly-tipping in Ealing could soon face fines of up to £5,000, as the government introduces tougher penalties aimed at tackling illegal waste dumping and littering.

Later this summer, local authorities including Ealing Council will be able to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £5,000 for fly-tipping, a significant increase from the current maximum of £1,000. The maximum penalty for littering will also rise from £500 to £750.

The changes come just a year after Ealing Council increased its own maximum fly-tipping fine from £400 to £1,000.

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Illegal dumping continues to be a major issue across the borough. Ealing Council has previously said it spends around £3 million each year clearing fly-tipped waste from streets and public spaces.

Latest figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show the problem is continuing to grow. During 2024/25, 25,394 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in Ealing, compared with 16,828 the previous year – an increase of more than 50%, making the borough one of the worst affected in London.

The government says the tougher penalties will give councils stronger powers to deter offenders and help keep neighbourhoods cleaner.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the increased fines send a clear message that fly-tipping and littering will not be tolerated, with offenders expected to face tougher financial penalties.

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Ealing Council has been trying to tackle the problem for many years. In 2016, it established a dedicated team to target fly-tipping hotspots, gather evidence and prosecute offenders. Since then, the council has also launched a number of awareness campaigns encouraging residents to dispose of waste responsibly.

Despite those efforts, fly-tipping remains a persistent problem in many parts of the borough, especially Southall. While higher fines may discourage some offenders, critics argue that increasing penalties alone is unlikely to reduce illegal dumping unless more offenders are identified and prosecuted.

They say proper enforcement, rather than simply imposing larger fines, is the key to tackling repeat offenders and bringing down the number of incidents.