Just six prosecutions were secured by Darlington Borough Council between April and September 2025, despite 1,502 reports.
The local authority recorded 11 fixed penalty offences but officers have been urged to improve enforcement.
Councillor Pauline Culley, Conservative member for Mowden, said: “I know we are having trouble getting this through the courts but that’s just bad, isn’t it? What are we doing about that?”
Darlington Councillor Pauline Culley, Conservative member in Mowden. (Image: Darlington Borough Council)
A communities and local services scrutiny committee was told the total number of fly tips reported between the same time period fell by 32% from 2,206 to 1,502 when compared to the same period last year.
The council said specific hotspot areas are being targeted on an evidence based-led approach to monitor and patrol them, with the aim of either identifying offenders or deterring fly-tipping.
New methods and an educational approach have also been adopted to try and minimise fly-tipping issues in back lanes.
Ben Grabham, assistant director of environment services and community safety, responded: “A fly tip can be anything from a single bag and up from that, so it depends on the size of the fly-tip and whether any materials are left that indicate who the perpetrator may be. It is important that when residents are disposing of waste, they ask for a waste carriers licence.
“We are looking at promoting fly tips and working with Keep Britain Tidy to target new initiatives across the country to raise the profile even more.”
Asked whether more surveillance cameras could be used, the council said it is looking to deploy more trail cameras in new locations later this year.
Residents can report a fly-tip, or if they see anyone fly-tipping, online via the council’s website at www.darlington.gov.uk/doitonline