The event brought together local authorities, the Environment Agency, Kent Police, government representatives, landowners, waste industry professionals and community partners to discuss the challenges posed by fly-tipping and waste crime, and identify opportunities for greater collaboration.
The conference focused on how organisations can work more effectively together to prevent fly-tipping, improve intelligence sharing, support communities, strengthen enforcement and increase public awareness of responsible waste disposal.
The event brought together local authorities, the Environment Agency, Kent Police, government representatives, landowners, waste industry professionals and community partners.
A key outcome from the day was agreement to establish a new countywide fly-tipping partnership, bringing together representatives from across the sector to help coordinate activity, share best practice and drive progress. The partnership will support the development of a Kent Fly-Tipping Action Plan, which will set out priorities and actions to help tackle fly-tipping and waste crime across the county.
The partnership will continue to meet regularly, providing a forum for organisations to address emerging issues, monitor progress and develop solutions together.
“The level of engagement from partners demonstrated a clear commitment to taking action.”
Linden Kemkaran, Leader of KCC, said: "Fly-tipping is a complex issue that affects communities, businesses, landowners and the environment across Kent. There is no single organisation that can solve it alone.
‘That is why this conference was so important. It brought together the people and organisations responsible for different parts of the system, creating an opportunity to share experiences, discuss common challenges and identify practical ways of working more effectively together.
‘It was also important that the voices of Kent residents were part of the conversation. The feedback we gathered through our social media polls highlighted the real impact fly-tipping has on local communities.
‘The level of engagement from partners demonstrated a clear commitment to taking action. The new partnership and the development of a Kent Fly-Tipping Action Plan will help ensure that momentum continues and that we build a coordinated response to tackling fly-tipping and waste crime across the county.
‘I would like to thank everyone who attended, contributed their expertise and shared their experiences. By working together, we can make a real difference for Kent's communities and countryside."
“The discussions and ideas generated on the day will now help shape the Kent Fly-Tipping Action Plan and the work of the new partnership.”
Jamie Henderson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health, said: "What stood out throughout the conference was the willingness of people to engage openly with the challenges and work together on solutions.
‘There was a real focus on practical, achievable actions, and we've come away with a strong foundation for future collaboration. The discussions and ideas generated on the day will now help shape the Kent Fly-Tipping Action Plan and the work of the new partnership."
