Basildon Council is clamping down on the illegal dumping of waste as part of its commitment to creating "cleaner, safer neighbourhoods".

The council's environmental enforcement team has issued 13 fixed penalty notices at the full rate of £1,000 each to those caught fly-tipping since launching a wider campaign in July.

As well as using cameras, the council has also installed 100 anti-fly-tipping signs across Basildon to deter illegal dumping.

Alongside this crackdown, Basildon Council is investing in infrastructure to support responsible waste disposal.

A borough-wide programme to improve and replace litter bins is now underway.

So far, 40 new bins have been installed, with a total of 350 set to be in place by the end of the project.

This initiative is designed to enhance Basildon's public spaces and help residents keep their local areas clean.

Aidan McGurran, Basildon councillor for environment, said: "Our residents deserve clean and safe neighbourhoods, and we are determined to crack down on fly-tipping, which is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

"By installing extra bins and putting up clear anti-fly-tipping signs, we're making it easier for residents to do the right thing - and harder for those who don't.

"We promised to fix the bins, and these improvements will make a real difference in keeping our streets tidy, and we're asking everyone to work with us to ensure our borough remains a place we can all be proud of."

Fly-tipping is illegal under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and can result in unlimited fines and imprisonment.

Prior to the clampdown launched earlier this summer, between April 2024 and the end of March 2025, there were more than 8,500 reports of fly-tipped rubbish across the borough.

Basildon Council also revealed in April that more than 1,000 fly-tips were cleared in one month.