Endlessly picking up after people only goes so far and we don’t have the resources to meet expectations.
Instead, we need to re-think the problem which is fundamentally about waste generation and disposal. If people have less waste and they do the right thing with it, less will end up in places it shouldn’t be. Every scrap of litter or fly tip is a missed opportunity to recycle and has a cost attached to it. It’s as uncomplicated as that.
The goal over the next few years will be to drive up recycling rates so that more tonnage of waste is recycled. Our approach will build on impactful campaigns which have helped recycling rates improve to 32.8%, plus new Government policy will make recycling simpler. New food and waste collection arrangements will come into effect across all local authorities in 2026 which enable citizens to recycle more of their waste.
This is a great opportunity to drive up recycling and prevent household waste, which sometimes makes its way onto the streets. Residents can also expect more waste disposal infrastructure such as Deposit Return Schemes in their communities to support recycling in and out of the home.
Similar changes to commercial waste disposal and recycling rules, some already in effect, will ensure businesses generate less waste and recycle more. Barking and Dagenham has a high proportion of small and medium enterprises and micro-businesses. It will be key to engage them about their waste disposal arrangements to ensure they are following guidelines and good practice. This will help prepare very small businesses for new regulations from 2027 and reduce commercial waste, which again, if not disposed correctly, finds its way into public spaces.
Residents and local businesses care deeply about the cleanliness and attractiveness of the borough. The commendable and appreciated work of self-organising community litter picking groups shows the extent residents will go to protect the local environment. We want more community-led action to keep streets clean, starting from the home.
We want to instil and nurture civic pride and responsibility to influence behaviour change, and we will be using communications campaigns and engagement to achieve that. New digital solutions will aid reporting of issues and intelligence for Enforcement and Public Realm services. Inspiring and facilitating civic pride and supporting the community to do their bit is at the heart of our approach.
Most people do the right thing to keep the borough nice for everyone and ensure environmental sustainability. For the small minority of people and businesses who do the wrong thing, with the help of the community, we will work tirelessly and enforce to the maximum of our powers against those behaviours.
| Measure | LBBD | London | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting | 32.6% | 32.7% | 42.3% |
| Total fly-tipping fines (£) | £45,294 | £3,309 | £2,467 |
Please note: This is the latest available data as at 1st February 2026.
Joint Strategy for East London's Resources and Waste (2027-57)
East London Waste Authority
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham