Southall resident stops couple fly-tipping a chest of drawers outside his home

A Southall resident stopped a couple from dumping a chest of drawers on his road after he challenged them on the street late at night.

The incident happened on the evening of Saturday 26 September. Footage shared with UB1UB2 shows two people carrying a large piece of furniture along a dark pavement, past parked vans and a controlled parking zone sign.

The resident filming tells them he is going to phone the council. The pair then turn round and carry the chest of drawers straight back into the house it came from. The exact street has not been made public.

A borough-wide problem

The incident comes as fly-tipping remains one of the most common complaints in Southall and across the London Borough of Ealing.

Government figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show that Ealing recorded 25,394 fly-tipping incidents in 2024/25, up more than 50 per cent on the year before. That put the borough among the worst affected in London and in England. A City Hall analysis of the figures notes that Ealing's total counts only incidents reported by residents and the public.

Ealing Council has said part of the rise comes from more people reporting fly-tipping, helped by its own campaign and by reporting tools that send complaints straight into its systems. The council has said it spends around £3 million a year clearing illegally dumped waste.

Local campaigners say the problem is especially bad in Southall. They say they counted 6,274 reported fly-tips in the town over two years. Residents have also petitioned the council for more enforcement, saying dumped mattresses, furniture and black bags have become normal on some streets.

In a Commons debate in September 2024, Ealing Southall MP Deirdre Costigan raised the effect fly-tipping has on her constituents.

Fines and penalties

In May 2025, Ealing Council raised its fixed penalty for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000 as part of a crackdown. It issued 181 fines in the first month or so of the campaign. People who do not pay can be taken to court.

The council says fly-tipping is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty in court is an unlimited fine or up to five years in prison.

In July 2026 the government announced new powers that will let councils raise fixed penalties for fly-tipping to as much as £5,000, and littering fines to up to £750. The powers were due to come into force later in the year.

How to report it

Ealing Council asks residents to report fly-tipping through the free Love Clean Streets app or on the council website. It says reports should include the location, a description of what was dumped and a photo or video if possible.

The council says it investigates fly-tips when there is evidence or a witness. Anyone reporting a fly-tipper is asked to give details such as a description of the person and any vehicle registration. Residents are advised not to confront anyone and to keep a safe distance when taking pictures.

The council removes waste dumped on land it owns or manages. It does not clear fly-tipping on private land, in private alleyways or on private access roads, which is the owner's responsibility.

The council also offers a paid bulky waste collection service for large household items such as furniture, mattresses and fridges. Details are on its website.