You can report all environmental enforcement problems online.
It’s the quickest way to let us know about a problem.
You can also find out if someone else has already reported the problem to us.
Report, view, or discuss environmental problems
Pay your fine (fixed penalty notice)
If you’ve received a fine (starting with reference QZF) under Section 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Littering and urination fixed penalty notices):
Pay your fine starting QZF
Pay your fine starting 6 digits
For all other kinds of fixed penalty notice, please call us. If you believe you have grounds to challenge your fine, email us at enforcementsupport@hackney.gov.uk.
Fly-tipping
Illegal waste dumping or fly-tipping is a serious concern for us and the local community. It can be physically dangerous and shift the financial burden of cleaning waste on to taxpayers.
- 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:
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
Illegal street trading and illegal vehicle sales and repairs
It is illegal to trade, sell or repair vehicles on the public highway or other public places without the appropriate council trading licence.
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.
Graffiti
The council is committed to reducing and removing undesirable graffiti.
- 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 remove it for a 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.
Dog fouling
It is an offence if you do not remove your pet’s poo from land within Hackney that is accessible to the public.
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.
Bonfire problems
The council is committed to reducing air pollution. Burning rubbish is the worst way to get rid of it – they release harmful chemicals into the air.
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
Fly-posting
Fly-posting is putting posters on trees, street furniture, post boxes, walls, buildings and telephone boxes without our permission. It is illegal.
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)
Litter
We have over 1000 litter bins and spend over £1 million a year cleaning the streets. You must not drop litter. You can receive a fine up to £2,500 for littering. Clean streets improve the image and atmosphere of a road.
Business owners should take steps to ensure their customers and employees do not drop litter in the area of their premises. This can include providing suitable bins and displaying posters (on the premises) promoting responsible behaviour. Business owners who do not take measures to tackle littering associated with their premises can face enforcement action under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Page updated on: 25 May 2023