Environmental enforcement

• do not touch the waste
• try to determine what the waste consists of and how much there is
• take note of its exact location
• do not disturb the site – it may contain evidence that could help identify the offenders

If you see someone fly-tipping, try to make a note of:

• the day, date and time
• what they looked like
• any vehicles involved (and their make, colour and
• registration number)

As a resident, you have a legal obligation to make sure your waste is disposed of properly. For normal household rubbish and recycling, use these services:

• weekly rubbish and recycling collections
• communal bins for estates and blocks of flats
• free bulky waste collections for large items
• household waste and recycling centres

We don’t collect building or DIY waste including tiles, carpet, rubble or fencing.

You or your builder must arrange for it to be collected by a licensed waste carrier. It is your responsibility to ensure that the waste carrier hired is registered with the Environment Agency:

• always ask whether they are registered waste carrier
• ask for their waste carrier number to verify details
• request a waste transfer note – this is a document which must accompany any transfer of waste between different holders.

If you own or run a business in Hackney, you must make arrangements for your commercial waste to be collected by a registered waste carrier. You have a responsibility to ensure that:

• you have an appropriate waste collection agreement to dispose of your business waste
• you prevent the escape of your business waste (which can cause a nuisance to local residents)
• your business waste is transferred to a registered waste carrier for disposal who provides you with a waste transfer note (WTN) or receipt as evidence of waste disposal
• you keep records of your WTN or receipt for a minimum period of two years and are able to provide it upon request from the Council (businesses disposing of waste who to fail to provide waste transfer notes for a period of covering 2 years may be prosecuted or issued with a £300 penalty notice)
• you present your waste for collection in line with refuse collection regulations for the road on which your business is located
• if you own vacant land, you must ensure that it is secured and not easily accessible by the public

Dumping waste without permission is a serious criminal offence. You can be fined up to £50,000 and a prison sentence.

It is also an offence to allow someone else to fly-tip or illegally dump waste on your behalf. 

If you arrange for waste to be removed, check the contractor’s duty of care notice which allows them to legally dispose of rubbish.

We can prosecute anyone caught dumping waste:

• we can prosecute people controlling vehicles used to dump waste, and seize vehicles used in fly-tipping offences. This means that it is possible to prosecute even if the driver of the vehicle is not identifiable
• we can also issue warnings and fixed penalty notices for less serious cases of fly-tipping

When reporting illegal street trading, let us know:

• the location of the street trading
• the nature of business
• the type of obstruction of the highway (tables, stands, etc)
• the times of trading, and how long the street trading has been going on
• who might be responsible (trade name of business, etc)

Some mechanics and businesses use the public highway as an extension of their garages and for vehicle sales.

This can cause a nuisance to local residents and it takes up car parking spaces. Repairing vehicles on the street can also look unsightly, cause local environment damage and present a danger to others.

If you need to report illegal vehicle repairs and sales, try to get:

• number of people involved
• descriptions of vehicles involved (used or repaired)
• how often it is occurring
• type(s) of vehicles involved
• registration details
• numbers of vehicles for sale

In cases of unlicensed street trading, materials can be seized, including perishable items, and offenders can be prosecuted or issued with a £150 fixed penalty fine.

In cases of breaches of the conditions of street trading licences, offenders may be prosecuted or issued with a £100 penalty.

We investigate reports of illegal vehicle repairs or sales, to determine whether it causes annoyance, or is part of a business illegally operating on the public highway.

• we remove all graffiti on council owned property
• we remove all graffiti on any property that is offensive
• if your property has been graffitied, we can possibly clean it free of charge

We recognise that some people consider that street art makes a positive contribution to the urban environment. If your property has a piece of street art or a mural on it, you must contact us to let us know that you would like to keep it.

We will remove street art or graffiti if we believe it spoils the local environment or prevents people from enjoying the area. When deciding whether to allow it, we consider whether it is:

• offensive, gang related, insulting or against public interest
• likely to encourage more graffiti or tagging
• inappropriate for the location or out of keeping with the surrounding area
• a cause of complaints to the Council
• on a listed building or in a conservation area
• libellous or potentially libellous
• Intimidating

If you are considering commissioning a new mural or a piece of street art on your property you must contact us to check that it will not breach our graffiti policy.

We introduced a dog control Public Spaces Protection Order under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Failure to comply with the Public Spaces Protection Order may result in a £100 penalty and/or prosecution with a maximum fine up to £1,000.

People who are registered as blind, disabled, or otherwise rely on dogs, are exempt from this order.

If you’re a dog owner, you must ensure that you clean any faeces that your dog leaves in a public place:

• if your dog needs to go to the toilet while you’re out, use a pooper scooper
• if you do not have a pooper scooper, you can use any plastic bag to clean up after your dog
• if you’re not able to deposit the bag in a dog litter bin, you should double wrap the used scoop and dispose of it in a street litter bin or at home

We no longer need to provide dog litter bins solely for the disposal of dog faeces.

All cases of dog fouling reported to us are investigated within 48 hours of receiving the report.

Our street wardens, park rangers, the dog warden and our estate managers enforce dog fouling rules.

Where dog fouling is a major problem, we undertake high visibility patrols and leaflet the street and the surrounding area. We also place warning signs in the area to advise dog owners of the need to clean up when their dog has fouled there.

Dog fouling on land owned by us is investigated by our estate managers. Ongoing offences can be referred to us. We will issue fixed penalty notices or start prosecution proceedings for repeat offenders.

Parks and recreational staff manage first-time offences.  

Continued breaches can be referred to us and we will take formal action as appropriate – this may include issuing fixed penalty notices or prosecution for repeat offenders.

You should always try to attend an organised event rather than having an individual bonfire. 

We will not normally take formal action in relation to bonfires held for religious or cultural celebrations, unless they cause a particular nuisance. 

We provide special refuse collection arrangements for Passover.

In the first instance, you should talk to the person who started the fire, explain your concerns and ask them to put it out.

If they refuse to put it out and the fire continues to cause a nuisance, contact us on 020 8356 4455 or email pollutionsupport@hackney.gov.uk.

If the fire is still burning, we will visit the location to see whether it is causing, or is likely to cause, a statutory nuisance.

If it is causing a nuisance, we can serve an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Failure to comply with a notice can lead to prosecution and a fine.

If the bonfire is on an industrial, commercial or construction site, it may be an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993. This could lead to prosecution and a fine.

You can also take your own direct action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by placing a complaint in the magistrates’ court.

• composting is the best way of getting rid of garden rubbish or shredded wood – it’s great for your garden too
• the brown bin scheme is for street-level properties in the borough – a fortnightly collection of garden rubbish
• our bulky waste service is available for all Hackney residents

Let us know:

• the location of the fly-posting
• the day, date and time you saw the fly-posting
• what the fly-posters were actually doing and what they looked like
• any vehicles involved (their make, colour and registration number)