We’re proud of Blackthorn

30 June 2026

Residents in Blackthorn are being urged to come together, take a stand against fly-tipping and show pride in their neighbourhood.

In partnership with West Northamptonshire Council, the council’s waste and recycling contractor Veolia has launched a new campaign to tackle the issue in this area, working closely with the local community to keep streets clean and safe.

Fly-tipping is a problem that affects everyone, from the look and feel of the area to causing environmental and public health problems. Clearing it up costs time and money, and it can attract further dumping if it is not dealt with quickly.

Blackthorn was selected as it experiences high levels of fly-tipping, and if the pilot is successful the scheme could be rolled out to other areas.

This campaign will focus on raising awareness of what fly-tipping is and ensure everyone knows how to dispose of their waste properly. It will highlight that fly-tipping is a criminal activity, educate people on how they can help prevent it, and outline their legal responsibilities.

The campaign will also encourage people to report incidents and make it clear that fly-tipping will not be tolerated. Crime scene-style tape will be used throughout to highlight hotspots.

Extra patrols and targeted enforcement will be in place, alongside practical advice via drop-in sessions at the local community centre. The aim is not only to act against those who break the law, but also to support those who want to do the right thing.

Local people have already shown strong support, with many saying they want to protect the area and take pride in where they live. By working together, the community, the council and our contractor Veolia can make a lasting difference.

Councillor Nigel Stansfield, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste, said: “Many people who live in Blackthorn care about their community and we want to support them to tackle the blight of fly-tipping in their area.

“Dumping things in the street is unacceptable and we want to make sure everyone knows that. It spoils neighbourhoods and puts unfair costs on everyone.

“I would like to caution against using those selling rubbish clearance services unless they are officially licensed to carry waste. It can often end up being fly-tipped and you remain responsible for it.

“We’re taking action, but we also need everyone to play their part by disposing of waste responsibly and reporting incidents when they see them.

“I’d like to thank the Northants Litter Wombles for their invaluable help keeping our communities clear. They’re an amazing example to us all. Together, we can keep Blackthorn clean and make it a place we can all be proud of.”

Andrew Reidy, Divisional Head of Municipal Operations, Veolia said: "We know how much this community cares about their neighbourhood, and we’re looking forward to making a real difference through this campaign.

“Our street cleansing teams already work hard to clear fly-tips, and by combining their efforts with a behaviour change campaign, we hope to see clearer streets for everyone to enjoy.”

People are encouraged to recycle as much as possible and take any extra waste that won’t fit in their black bins to one of our waste and recycling centres for free.

The Council also runs a reasonably-priced bulky waste collection service which anyone can use to dispose of items they might otherwise struggle to get rid of, such as furniture or appliances.  If residents have useable clothing, toys, books, CDs etc they can book a free collection through our partnership with Anglo Doorstep Collections. 

If anyone spots fly-tipping, we would urge them to report it quickly so it can be cleared and investigated. We have several ways you can report issues:

• Through the “Report fly-tipping” page on our website
• Via our mobile app, where you can also manage many other tasks

To check whether someone is registered as a waste carrier, visit the Environment Agency website.