By Paul Empson, General Manager, Bakers Basco
As someone on the frontline of the UK’s waste-crime crisis, I fully support Keep Britain Tidy’s call for stronger enforcement. But what really struck me in their latest survey was just how many local authorities are feeling the pressure. With 98% reporting fly-tipping in their area and 70% calling it a major problem, it’s clear that councils are being asked to fight an uphill battle with limited tools and even fewer resources.
At Bakers Basco, we work closely with local authorities across the country to trace and recover stolen grocery delivery equipment – reusable bread baskets and dollies that are part of our closed-loop system. What we’ve seen mirrors the council experience: a rise in organised, profit-driven waste activity, often carried out by the same rogue operators responsible for fly-tipping.
These aren’t one-off acts of carelessness; they’re deliberate and repeat offences by people exploiting weak regulation and inconsistent enforcement.
For local authorities, the consequences are twofold. First, there’s the immediate financial burden – the £100 to 150 million annual clean-up cost cited by Keep Britain Tidy is money that could otherwise fund essential public services. Second, there’s the erosion of public trust. Residents who see waste dumped repeatedly in their area lose faith that reporting it will make a difference. Meanwhile, legitimate businesses and compliant operators suffer as criminals undercut them.
It’s time to acknowledge that waste crime is not simply an environmental nuisance, it’s an organised criminal enterprise and local government is on the front line of defence. That’s why I believe the proposed National Fly-tipping Action Plan must do more than call for tougher penalties. It must equip local authorities with the data, coordination and enforcement capability to act decisively.
Our own enforcement model offers a glimpse of what’s possible. We collaborate with councils, police and environmental enforcement teams to share intelligence, track stolen equipment and identify repeat offenders. We use GPS technology, CCTV evidence and body-worn cameras to gather admissible evidence, and we see results. When local authorities have access to clear data and national coordination, the difference is tangible. The same approach could help councils identify rogue waste carriers faster and build stronger prosecutions.
We also need to make it easier for councils to work across borders. Waste crime rarely respects local boundaries, yet too often councils operate in silos. A central intelligence-sharing platform, linked to the Environment Agency and supported by police forces, could prevent duplication and ensure that the same offenders aren’t being pursued, or missed, by multiple regions.
Finally, enforcement must go hand in hand with prevention. Councils need the funding and flexibility to promote legitimate disposal options and to educate residents about the risks of using unlicensed “white-van” collectors. Simpler waste-site access, clearer communication and shared responsibility from manufacturers and retailers would all reduce the temptation to take shortcuts.
Local authorities cannot carry this burden alone. Businesses like ours stand ready to assist, share insight and coordinate action. Together, we can make waste crime a less profitable, higher-risk venture for those who exploit the system.
If we truly want to support our councils and clean up our communities, we must stop treating fly-tipping as an eyesore and start tackling it as the organised economic and environmental threat it has become. With joined-up enforcement, shared intelligence and stronger collaboration between business and local government, we can finally begin to turn the tide.
For any instances of equipment misuse or to report suspicious activity, please contact Bakers Basco’s dedicated recovery hotline at 08000 327323.
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