It comes after figures emerged that almost 20,000 incidents were recorded in the 2024-25 period and the newspaper spotted a score of episodes.
Fly-tipping has also been labelled as a “clear reputational risk” for Bradford as it looks to build on the successes of its City of Culture year.
From Holme Wood to West Bowling, and Little Horton to Buttershaw, the T&A has seen plenty of examples where furniture, fridges and general rubbish has been dumped on the district’s streets.
Bradford Council says that there are free ways of getting rid of excess waste – and that fly-tipping is never the solution.
Random pieces of furniture and white goods tossed on the grass. (Image: T&A)
To launch the campaign we have spoken to Bradford Council, an MP and local councillors to try and get to the bottom of what can be done to stop this endemic.
Are people being punished for fly-tipping?
Last year, the T&A revealed just £6,500 in fines had been paid in three years (2022-24) by Bradford households whose waste was found to be fly-tipped.
Householders can be fined up to £5,000 and end up with a criminal record if they ask someone else to remove their rubbish and it is found to be fly-tipped.
Earlier this year, Bradford Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team secured its first custodial sentence for a fly-tipping offence. The case involved the deliberate illegal disposal of asbestos sheeting.
Shocking photographs capture the severity of fly tipping in Holme Wood. (Image: T&A)
Holme Wood fly-tipping
In this first piece, we are focussing on a massive dump at Holme Wood.
Last month, a truly shocking mound of fly-tipping could be seen in Bradford’s largest estate.
It was situated besides Stirling Crescent, with some more on Dane Hill Drive, in Holme Wood.
Bradford Council said it was aware of the issue, and had visited the location with a local councillor and partner organisations to address the extent of the problem.
White goods dumped. (Image: T&A)
People in Holme Wood take real pride
Labour MP for Bradford South Judith Cummins added that the “blight” of fly-tipping stretches beyond Bradford and “across the country”.
She also highlighted the immense pride that Holme Wood locals have in their area.
“It is unacceptable that these waste criminals think they can come into Holme Wood bringing truckloads of rubbish and dump it illegally,” said the Labour MP.
“I met recently with the Environment Agency and have also formed a partnership pulling together the local authority’s waste, crime and enforcement teams, social housing landlords and police, to deploy new ways of tackling these criminals.
“People in Holme Wood take real pride in their area and deserve to live in a clean and safe neighbourhood.”
A discarded mattress. (Image: T&A)
‘It is the number one issue in my inbox’
Tong Ward Councillor Ursula Sutcliffe said: “It is the number one issue in my inbox, and it has been since the day I became a councillor.”
Cllr Sutcliffe worries that no “real investment” is being put into addressing the root of the problem.
“It is a constant cycle of report, report, report, with no sight of real investment being made to tackle this issue,” she added.
“While 2025 was City of Culture, 2026 should have been the City of Pride.
“We should have become a city that decided to tackle it in a new way.”
A truly shocking assortment of rubbish dumped. (Image: T&A)
Councillor suggests some areas ‘prioritised’
Another Tong Ward Councillor, Matt Edwards, also feels as though Holme Wood residents are being neglected.
“There are clearly issues with how the council prioritises street cleansing work,” said Cllr Edwards.
“In some parts of the district, rubbish is cleared within hours.
“Here in Holme Wood, we are left waiting.
“That reinforces the feeling that our communities are being treated as second class.”
More furniture. (Image: T&A)
Much more needs to be done
He elaborates that fly-tipping across Holme Wood and Tong Ward is a “massive problem”.
“I have been repeatedly telling senior managers that much more needs to be done.
“I am told fly-tipping should be cleared within 24 hours, but anyone living in Holme Wood will tell you that sites like this can sit for weeks before they are dealt with.”
An overwhelming image depicting just how much stuff was left. (Image: T&A)
What the council said
In response to Cllr Edwards specific grievances, Councillor Sarah Ferriby said: “Wherever fly-tipping happens in the district, it is treated with the same seriousness.
“Fly-tipping is a criminal act and the council has a track record of prosecuting the perpetrators and confiscating their vehicles.
Rubbish bags seeping out on to the grass. (Image: T&A)
“It’s disingenuous for Cllr Edwards to suggest otherwise.
“We’ve also taken calls from residents of Tong ward on this issue when they can’t get hold of him so we are well aware of the fly-tipping hot spots in his ward.
“We will relentlessly pursue fly-tippers, council taxpayers shouldn’t be left with the bill for picking up someone else’s mess.”
In response to those points, Cllr Edwards said: “As Councillor Ferriby well knows, being a councillor isn’t a full-time job and like many councillors I have to have a part time job to pay the bills.
“I am not a 24 hour emergency services and the very fact people so many people are contacting me and other councillors shows reporting through the normal channels doesn’t work for Holme Wood residents.”
And more rubbish. (Image: T&A)
Land ‘belonging to more than one landowner’
Bradford Council says it can only clear fly-tipping on its own land.
Where land is owned by other organisations, it works “together in partnership to resolve the issue”.
A spokesperson said: “Fly-tipping is a criminal offence which can result in fixed penalty fines of up to £1,000, unlimited fines where we prosecute or a custodial sentence.
“Our Environmental Enforcement Officers continue to investigate fly-tipping and take action whenever offenders can be identified.
“In order to effectively investigate and prosecute we need evidence and rely on people reporting incidents to us.
“Photographic or video evidence is also extremely useful.
“We can only take enforcement on public land.
“Where the land is privately owned we can support and advise the landowner on removing the waste.”
How to get rid of rubbish?
A spokesperson for the council said: “There are several options available for residents to get rid of any excess waste instead of fly tipping, including taking it to a household waste recycling centre free of charge, booking a bulky waste collection for which there is a small charge or using a registered waste carrier.”
“If anyone uses a waste carrier they must check they have a waste carrier license because if their waste is found to be fly tipped the resident can also be fined or prosecuted.
“Our cleansing teams work hard to clear up reported incidences of fly tipping and our environmental enforcement team will investigate and try to identify the perpetrators.
“We use a range of measures to crack down on fly tippers, including the use of cameras to deter offenders, capture vital evidence, and prevent further incidents.
“Anyone who witnesses or suspects it should contact us via www.bradford.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling 01274 432111.”
Have you got any recent examples of fly-tipping in your area? Feel free to send your images to newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk and we can pass them on to Bradford Council