Portsmouth Fly-tipping Statistics 2025

We’ve all seen them – rusty fridges and mattresses at the side of country roads to piles of commercial waste left on grass verges next to industrial estates. As unsightly as these items may be - they pose much greater threats than just aesthetics, from environmental issues to risks to public health.  

Unfortunately, as with many other cities across the UK, Portsmouth residents are no strangers to the issue of fly-tipping. But just how many incidents are reported in the city each year? And how does Portsmouth’s fly-tipping rate compare to those in other parts of the country?  

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

With an average of 3,000 instances of fly-tipping being reported each day in England, these incidents are extremely common occurrences across the country. But just how much does Portsmouth contribute to the issue? 

• Recent data from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found that 1,092 fly-tipping incidents were reported in Portsmouth in the year ending March 2024.
• This is an increase of 45% from the year before (ending March 2023), when 751 reports were made.
• While 525 instances of fly-tipping were reported the previous year (ending March 2022), meaning Portsmouth’s fly-tipping rate more than doubled in the space of just 2 years.  

Where are the most common places for fly-tipping in Portsmouth? 

It’s clear that Portsmouth’s fly-tipping rate is continuing to rise at an alarming rate. But which parts of the city have the most reports? Our analysis of the government’s most recent fly-tipping data found that in the year ending March 2024:  

• The most common type of land waste is dumped on in Portsmouth is council-owned, with 622 incidents being reported on land such as this.
• This is followed by highways, which had 390 fly-tipping reports filed.
• And private or residential areas, where 69 reports were made. 

Map of Portsmouth showing 155 open incidents of fly-tipping on (FixMyStreet, 4^th March 2025)

What type of waste is illegally disposed of most often in Portsmouth? 

Now we know the types of land that are fly-tipped on most in Portsmouth, but what types of waste disposed of in these areas? Is it mostly commercial waste discarded irresponsibly? Or are households to blame? The report found: 

• The most common type of waste fly-tipped in Portsmouth is household waste, with 495 of these incidents being reported in the year ending March 2024.
• While black bags filled with household waste are the second most frequently fly-tipped items (359).
• In contrast, just 24 reports of commercial waste fly-tipping occurred in this timeframe. 

Can you be fined for fly-tipping in Portsmouth? 

Similarly to other councils across England, Portsmouth City Council issues fines (also known as Fixed Penalty Notices) to those found to be fly-tipping.  

• The maximum penalty that can be imposed for fly-tipping is £50,000.
• Although, despite an increase in reports, there were on 17 fixed-penalty notices issued for fly-tipping last year in Portsmouth.
• That said, imprisonment is also a possible consequence, with one Portsmouth resident having been sentenced to 30-months in prison for 5 instances of fly-tipping in 2019.  

How do Portsmouth’s fly-tipping statistics compare to other parts of Hampshire? 

Hampshire is known for areas of beauty such as the New Forest and bustling cities like Southampton. But how does Portsmouth compare to areas such as these when it comes to their rate of illegally dumped waste? 

• Of the whole of Hampshire, Portsmouth has the 6^th highest number of fly-tipping incidents (in the year ending March 2024).
• The year before, Portsmouth had the 3rd lowest number of reports out of all local authorities in the area.
• 5 fly-tipping reports are made per 1,000 people in Portsmouth, compared to 42 per 1,000 in Southampton (Hampshire’s highest), and 2 per 1,000 in Fareham (the lowest).

What can be done to tackle the issue of fly-tipping in Portsmouth? 

There’s a lot that can be done to address Portsmouth’s fly-tipping problem. While the council plays a role in providing adequate waste disposal services and enforcement, the primary responsibility lies with residents to dispose of their waste responsibly.  

However, many people simply don’t have the time or means to transport their waste to local Portsmouth recycling points. This is where the likes of HIPPO come in. Our Portsmouth Rubbish Removal services are a great option for those needing to get rid of waste in a hassle-free, reliable way. From mattress removals, to white goods disposal, furniture collections and more, our friendly team are on hand and happy to help.