Reported flytipping DOWN by 850 according to West Northants Council during five months following introduction of controversial booking system at tips
The number of flytips reported across West Northamptonshire has dropped since a controversial booking system for tips was brought in last year, despite concerns at the time that it would increase the illegal dumping of waste.
From November 2025, all West Northants residents were told they must register ahead of time to access any of the six tips in the area. The authority said this would help reduce queues, ease pressure on surrounding roads, and ensure a smoother experience for residents.
However, critics suggested that the extra step in people accessing the tip could negatively impact levels of fly-tipping and lead to overflowing bins at kerbside collections.
According to new data gathered through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, 8,938 flytips were reported to West Northants Council (WNC) in the five months after the new system was brought in. This is down from 9,788 flytips reported in the same November to March period the year prior.
HWRC visitor numbers shared by the council in the FOI indicate there was a 30 per cent reduction in the number of people attending the council’s tips after the booking system was implemented. This fell from 262,000 visits recorded between November 2024 and March 2025 to 177,000 visits from November 2025 up to the end of March.
A WNC spokesperson has said the reduction in numbers may be down to people planning their visits to the recycling centres and bringing more items in a single trip, rather than dropping in regularly with an item or two. They also said there would have been a reduction in people driving in from out of the area to access the centres, when before they used to see “large numbers crossing the borders”.
Council leader Mark Arnull previously told a full council meeting that around 10 per cent of waste being processed in West Northants HWRCs was coming from outside the authority. Under the new booking scheme, people living outside West Northants are only able to use the paid-for small trade waste service at Sixfields and Ecton Lane.
The FOI also highlighted that around one in ten people missed their slots to dump waste at the council’s HWRCs, though this has fallen slightly since the first month the system was introduced. A spokesperson said that some no-show visits are “to be expected with a service people are not charged for”, but that the introduction of bookable slots had helped to smooth the peaks in demand.
Cllr Nigel Stansfield, cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, said: “We were confident that bringing in the booking system would not lead to more fly‑tipping, and we’re pleased that the figures show that this has been the case.
“Fly‑tipping remains a priority for us. We will continue encouraging people to dispose of their waste properly and seeking ways to take action against repeat offenders.”
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday May 5, Cllr Stansfield also referenced recent action taken on enforcement, saying there was going to be a change of policy within the council which would result in there being “a lot more FPNs being given” to flytippers.
“The more people we fine, the more we’ll advertise and hopefully people will get the message out there,” he added.