Bristol Fly-Tipping Report 2025

Discarded sofas on pavements, broken fridges in alleyways, and rubbish dumped in industrial parks - fly-tipping isn’t just messy, it harms the environment and puts public health at risk.

Bristol, like many UK cities, faces an ongoing struggle with illegal dumping. In this article, we explore the latest statistics on fly-tipping incidents in the city. But how widespread is the problem and how does Bristol compare to other areas in the South West?

How many fly-tipping incidents are reported in Bristol each year?

To find out how often people in Bristol fly-tip across the city, we looked into the latest government data (DEFRA) on fly-tipping incident reports in England, which found:

• In the year ending 2024, 8,556 fly-tipping incidents were reported in Bristol.
• This equates to 17 incidents per 1,000 people, below the national average of 20 per 1,000 people.
• This is a decrease of nearly 16% from the year before (ending March 2023), when 10,181 incidents were reported.
• From 2014 to 2024, fly-tipping incidents have fluctuated but remained mostly unchanged.

The graph below shows that there have been little changes in the overall high number of fly-tipping reports in Bristol in the last decade.

Where does fly-tipping occur most in Bristol?

Which areas of the city had the highest number of fly-tipping incidents? Are parks or the city centre more affected by illegal dumping than other locations, such as residential areas? Our analysis of the government's latest fly-tipping data for the year ending March 2024 found that:

• The most common type of land in Bristol where waste is illegally disposed of is on the highways, with 6,839 incidents being reported.
• This is followed by footpaths and bridleways, which had 1,151 fly tipping incidents filed.
• And council-owned lands like parks and play areas, where 442 reports were made.

In addition, as shown in the map below from FixMyStreet, which highlights active fly-tipping reports across the Bristol City Council area, our research found that:

• A high proportion of fly-tipping cases in Bristol are concentrated east of the city centre, particularly in residential areas like Easton.
• However, fly-tipping cases in Bristol are generally widespread across various residential areas, including Lockleaze, Southmead, and Lawrence Weston, which are in the northern parts of the city.

There are also several reports of illegal waste dumped on roads such as the South Bristol Link Road and highways like the A4320 on Easton Way.

The map shows reported fly-tipping cases still open across Bristol as of 16th May 2025 (data from FixMyStreet).

What type of waste is most commonly fly-tipped in Bristol?

Now that we know Bristol’s highways, footpaths, and parks are the worst hit areas for fly-tipping, what kind of waste is most commonly dumped there? The government report found: 

• Household waste was the most frequently fly-tipped material in Bristol, with 5,347 incidents reported in the year ending March 2024, making up more than half of all cases.
• The second most common type was waste carried and dumped by small vans, with 3,799 incidents.
• Other common types of fly-tipped waste included 1,105 incidents of black bags filled with household waste and 1,872 cases of single-item waste.
• Interestingly, 71% of all fly-tipping cases involved white goods, such as fridges and freezers.
• In contrast, animal materials were the least frequently dumped waste type, with just zero reports over the same period, while clinical waste was reported only 5 times.

Can you be fined for fly-tipping in Bristol?

According to Bristol City Council, fines (or Fixed Penalty Notices) of up to £50,000 can be issued for people who fly-tip. They can also face up to five years of imprisonment. . They can also face up to five years of imprisonment.

• Last year, 188 fixed penalty notices were issued for fly-tipping in Bristol., meaning only 2.2% resulted in fines by March 2024.
• Bristol also recorded the highest number of warning letters in the South West, with 507 issued, along with 441 inspections of sites where fly-tipping occurred.

How do Bristol’s fly-tipping statistics compare to other areas in the Southwest?

Despite being named one of the most eco-friendly cities in England in a 2024 study due to its many parks, nature reserves, public walking trails and its countryside surroundings, Bristol’s high fly-tipping rate tells a different story. When it comes to its fly tipping rate, how does Bristol compare to other areas in the South West? The data found that:

• Of all 27 local authorities, in the South West of England, Bristol recorded the highest number of fly-tipping incidents with 8,556 reports.
• Bristol also had the second-highest fly tipping rate in the South West, with 17 incidents per 1,000 people in the year ending March 2024.
• Plymouth had the highest rate in the region, with 21 incidents per 1,000 people, while the Isles of Scilly had the lowest, with zero reports.
• The previous year, Bristol also had the highest number of fly-tipping reports in the region, with 10,181 incidents—twice as many as Plymouth, which ranked second with 5,092 reports.

What is being done to tackle Bristol’s high fly-tipping rate?

In recent years, fly-tipping in Bristol has declined due to stricter enforcement, including fines, warnings, and inspections. Since 2024, the Green Party-led council has intensified efforts to tackle the issue, supported by an additional £350,000 in government funding to keep city streets clean.

To combat fly-tipping, the council encourages residents to photograph incidents, ensuring the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team can respond quickly. They have also taken action against small vans illegally dumping waste by seizing and disposing of them.

While these measures have been effective, some residents and businesses may struggle to donate unwanted items to local charities in Bristol. This is where HIPPO can help. Our Bristol rubbish removal services offer efficient and sustainable waste disposal for homes and businesses, diverting as much as possible from landfills. Whether you need to dispose of white goods, bulky furniture, or garden waste, our friendly HIPPO team is ready to assist.

Curious about the latest fly tipping statistics in the UK? We’ve also provided a breakdown of how many people fly-tip in the UK in 2025.