"You can't just blame Newham Council for everything."
A London councillor criticised his own residents for fly-tipping as he insisted they cannot blame the council for the borough’s ongoing problem.
Newham Independent councillor Mehmood Mirza shared a video on TikTok while standing in front of a pile of discarded household waste, urging residents to take greater responsibility for keeping their neighbourhoods clean.
The video showed several items abandoned on the pavement, including garden chairs, a chest of drawers and a child’s swing, as Councillor Mirza expressed his frustration at what he described as years of fly-tipping across the borough.
He said: “I have been fighting for you for the last six or seven years to get a free bulky waste collection.”
Reminding residents they could arrange collections online, he continued:
“You know what, you can book it online. Why do you have to do that?
“You can get six items picked up free of charge. Just go online, do your keyroll, book it online and have some pride where you live.
“You can’t just blame Newham Council for everything. They have been doing it for you, and I am asking for unlimited bulky waste collection.
“You get three times a year, free collection. And if you see fly-tipping, please report it.”
Councillor Mirza was then seen taking photographs of the abandoned items, preparing to report the incident to the council.
Fly-tipping has been a longstanding problem in Newham, which was dubbed London’s “filthiest borough” in 2021 after more than 160 incidents were reported in a single week.
The council has since stepped up efforts to tackle illegal dumping, launching a “Wall of Shame” earlier in 2026 featuring CCTV footage of suspected fly-tippers caught leaving rubbish on local streets.
Under the initiative, residents who recognise people featured in the footage can help identify them and become eligible for a £100 cash reward.
Newham Mayor Forhad Hussain has also called on residents to help tackle the problem, saying the council is responding to demands for cleaner streets and tougher action against those responsible.
In a recent statement, he said: “Fly-tipping has no place in Newham.
“Our residents have told us they want cleaner streets and stronger action against the people who illegally dump rubbish in our neighbourhoods – and that is exactly what we are doing.
“Our new Wall of Shame will make it harder for fly-tippers to hide. If you recognise someone we share, tell us.
“Residents know their streets and neighbourhoods better than anyone.
“By working together, we can identify those responsible and keep Newham cleaner.”
Newham is not the only London borough facing growing frustration over fly-tipping, with Hillingdon Council also launching enforcement action against residents accused of leaving waste on residential streets.
@newhamindparty #wastecollection #eastlondon #newham ? Hate It Or Love It – Instrumental – Instrumental Icons
Council officials said they were furious at people who “continue to think they can dump rubbish and drive away without consequences”, identifying a fly-tipping hotspot outside the car park of St Anselm’s Church in Hayes, west London.
Enforcement teams have reportedly seen people regularly abandoning bin bags at the location, prompting the council to publish photographs of suspected offenders on its Facebook page and ask residents to help identify them.
Last month, Hillingdon Council announced a wider crackdown, warning that those caught fly-tipping could face immediate fines of up to £1,000 and possible prosecution.
