Maidstone Borough Council has introduced drones to enhance its anti-fly-tipping operations.
Officers have been using drones to identify fly-tipped waste within minutes, creating significant time savings for jobs that can take hours to complete in rural regions.
The equipment uses thermal imaging to help locate burning waste quickly, supporting the council in delivering more efficient detection and clear-up services.
For example, the council was able to clear 1,104 of the 1,687 fly-tips found between April and September in just four days.
Cllr Clive English, cabinet member for environmental services and enforcement, said: ‘Up and down the country we are seeing the devastating impact of fly-tipping, with industrial-scale waste dumping on an organised crime level causing misery to communities, polluting watercourses and destroying wildlife habitats.’
He added: ‘I urge anyone having waste removed from their homes to ensure the people collecting it have a waste carrier's licence. Be mindful that if your waste is found dumped and traced back to you, you are liable for a fine or prosecution.’
