A London councillor has criticised residents in his own ward over persistent fly-tipping, delivering an impassioned social media appeal from beside a pile of dumped household waste.
Newham independent councillor Mehmood Mirza posted a TikTok video showing a line of rubbish on a residential street and urged constituents to stop leaving unwanted items on pavements.
He told residents they “cannot simply blame Newham Council for everything.”
Fly-tipping has plagued Newham for years. In 2021, the east London borough was branded the capital’s “filthiest borough” after more than 160 incidents were recorded in a single week.
Earlier this year, the council escalated its response by launching a “Wall of Shame”, publishing CCTV images of people suspected of dumping rubbish on local streets.
Residents who help identify people featured in the footage can now qualify for a £100 cash reward.
Cllr Mirza said he had become increasingly frustrated after years of dealing with illegal dumping and decided to confront residents directly.
He leads Newham Independents, the council’s second-largest party after Labour, in an authority where no group holds overall control.
Newham independent councillor Mehmood Mirza filmed his appeal beside a pile of dumped waste
Garden chairs, a chest of drawers and a child’s swing were visible on the pavement behind him.
“I have been fighting for you for the last six or seven years to secure a free bulky-waste collection,” he said.
During the recording, Cllr Mirza briefly stopped to pick up the child’s swing after it toppled over.
He went on to remind residents that the service could be arranged online.
“Why do you have to do that?” he asked, gesturing towards the rubbish piled behind him.
“You can have six items collected free of charge.
“Just go online, complete the form, make the booking and take some pride in where you live.
“You cannot simply blame Newham Council for everything.
“The council has been providing this service, and I am calling for unlimited bulky-waste collections.
“At present, you receive three free collections a year.
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“And if you see fly-tipping, please report it.”
The councillor was later seen photographing the rubbish so he could report it to the council.
In a recent statement, Newham Mayor Forhad Hussain said: “Fly-tipping has no place in Newham.
“Residents have told us they want cleaner streets and tougher action against people who illegally dump rubbish in their neighbourhoods—and that is exactly what we are delivering.
“Our new Wall of Shame will make it more difficult for fly-tippers to avoid detection. If you recognise anyone featured, let us know.
“Residents know their streets and neighbourhoods better than anyone. By working together, we can identify those responsible and make Newham cleaner.”
Cllr Mirza stopped to lift a child’s swing after it fell over during the recording
Newham is not the only London borough facing a serious fly-tipping problem.
Officials at Hillingdon Council said they were furious with residents who “continue to think they can dump rubbish and drive away without consequences”.
Enforcement officers identified a hotspot outside the car park at St Anselm’s Church in Hayes, west London, where bin bags were reportedly being abandoned regularly.
The council has shared photographs of suspected offenders on its Facebook page and is appealing to local residents for information that could help identify them.
Hillingdon launched a fly-tipping crackdown last month, warning that offenders could receive an immediate fine of up to £1,000 and face prosecution.
The borough has also crushed its first vehicle linked to illegal dumping after a Ford Iveco flatbed truck was caught leaving rubbish on a residential road in Ickenham.
The council’s anti-social behaviour team used CCTV to trace the vehicle before it was seized in Hayes, impounded and crushed on September 3.
Councillor Adam Bennett, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for community, environment and enforcement, said: “Where we have the evidence, we will use every enforcement power available to hold those responsible to account.
“Fly-tipping harms our environment and communities. There is no excuse for dumping waste illegally when free and low-cost disposal options are available.
“We all have a role to play in keeping Hillingdon clean, so I urge residents to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and report any fly-tipping incidents to us.”