‘Love Your Street’ campaign launched to crackdown on illegal dumping

A targeted campaign focused on cracking down on illegal dumping is set to launch across hotspot streets in Stoke-on-Trent.

From Tuesday 30 July, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is launching the ‘Love Your Street’ campaign in an effort to combat illegal dumping in popular areas with funding secured from DEFRA.

The campaign will focus on six streets across six areas of the city, including:

• Portland Street, Hanley (41)

·        Goldenhill Road, Fenton (30)

·        Lindley Street, Burslem (26)

·        Cauldon Road, Shelton (34)

·        King William Street, Tunstall (35)

·        Fletcher Road, Stoke (28)

Across 12 months, (year 22/23) each street averaged 30 reported incidents of illegal dumping.

During this time the council will support residents to dispose of household waste appropriately and there will be increase in CCTV, signage and enforcement action.Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability advised: “We have made no secret of wanting residents to take pride in where they live. Ownership starts as soon as someone decides to act inconsiderably, its now time to stop, think and take action. The amenities available for all residents to dispose of waste legally have never been easier.”

The £46,000 funding from DEFRA will provide eight new mobilised CCTV cameras, which will enable the council target more areas.Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability continues, “While we are targeting these streets, we want the rest of the city to also take action. It takes a few minutes out of your day to do the right thing, and put rubbish in the appropriate bin, or arrange for a bulky waste collection. We are serious about penalising those who continue to blight the city, and action will be taken. Please, do the right thing.

“We have pledged to make the city safer, cleaner and greener, building empowered communities, conserving our environment and working together to clean up our city and communities, and that starts on our doorsteps.”This comes as the Illegal Dumping in Our Towns campaign which launched in June 2023 has seen environmental teams clear 8400 incidents of illegal dumping and issue over 3,500 fixed penalty notices.

The Love Your Street campaign will run in the listed areas until the end of September.

For more information on the best way to dispose of waste, including how to book a bulky waste collection, please visit: www.stoke.gov.uk/illegaldumping