Illegal dumping, also known as fly-tipping, is a widespread and growing problem faced by local authorities across the UK. In response, the Government has proposed tougher measures to help combat the problem, including allowing councils to crush vehicles used by offenders, mandatory digital waste tracking from 2026, and stricter carrier registration. With new powers and
responsibilities, councils need effective tools that deter and protect communities, while also providing actionable evidence to support legal action.
Ward — a leading UK security specialist — shares how they’re using Reconeyez technology to deliver a practical, low-maintenance, and cost-effective solution to support a local authority in tackling persistent environmental crime.
The challenge
The council faced a recurring problem of fly-tipping on a narrow road leading into a residential area. These illegal dumping activities were creating serious consequences:
- Damage to fencing and roadside property.
- Escalating waste removal costs that placed a burden on public resources.
- Difficulty in identifying perpetrators due to poor visibility, especially at night.
The authority’s objective was clear: deter illegal dumping, monitor activity effectively, and identify offenders — while keeping operational and maintenance costs low.
“Fly-tipping is a significant challenge that continues to grow, costs councils’ money and damages communities. It is often very hard to get under control without the right technology in place,” explains Shaun Collins, Technical Solutions Operations Manager at Ward.
Innovative monitoring and collaboration
A fundamental component of Ward’s service offering includes in-house monitoring from its National Operations Centre. This ensures that all activations are promptly assessed and intelligence gathered 24/7.
“Ward not only monitors activations in-house from our National Operations Centre to assist with incident response, but we also have regular meetings with clients. These allow us to share insights and observations from the site, tailoring and evolving the solution to meet changing client requirements and challenges. This collaborative and proactive approach ensures the security system remains effective, adaptable, and aligned with long-term goals,” comments Hayley Graves, Head of Solutions Operations at Ward.
Innovative solutions for lasting protection
Ward designed a tailored installation strategy using Reconeyez technology, optimising equipment placement and power management to deliver robust coverage at minimal cost.
Elevated detector installation
- Reconeyez system has a 35m detection range (3x times better detection range than competitors), with an invisible but powerful flash that illuminates the whole area.
- On this project, fence posts were extended to mount Reconeyez detectors higher. This provided even wider surveillance coverage and reduced the risk of tampering or vandalism.
- All Reconeyez devices are resistant to extreme weather and physical damage, with a built-in tamper alarm.
Spider mount deployment
- Spider mounts were used to attach multiple devices per post, including detectors, solar panels, and wireless bridges.
- All Reconeyez devices are preconfigured and automatically paired for ease of deployment, helping ensure speedy installation.
- This modular setup maximised utility while reducing the total number of posts and equipment needed.
Custom solar power setup
- Custom cabling enabled multiple detectors to be powered from a single solar panel.
- Reconeyez offers up to 400-day battery life as standard, and can also be deployed with solar power, as seen on this project. Reconeyez devices are also fully autonomous with no need for WiFi. Reconeyez’ patented AI automatic device configuration helps conserve battery power. Using the Reconeyez Cloud platform, all systems can be monitored and updated remotely.
- This eliminated the need for frequent battery changes, reducing site visits and long-term maintenance costs.
Nighttime monitoring & vehicle identification
- A mix of solar-powered motion detectors and night vision detectors capable of capturing vehicle number plates was deployed.
- Reconeyez delivers HD-quality images with number plate recognition to comply with legal requirements. Alongside this, the patented AI visual verification reduces false alarms and ensures that only relevant alerts are sent. Images and event data are sent directly to the cloud for secure storage and easy access.
- As a result, the system provided clear evidence for enforcement and prosecution, even in low-light conditions.
“The flexibility of Reconeyez — especially with solar and wireless setups — allowed us to create a solution that was reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. We were able to do more with less equipment, which was key to the council’s budget constraints,” adds Shaun.
Delivering substantial reductions and improved reporting
The deployment delivered measurable improvements for the council:
- Reduction in fly-tipping incidents following installation.
- Significant cost savings from reduced waste removal and fewer maintenance visits.
- Enhanced evidence collection, enabling enforcement teams to pursue offenders with confidence.
- Improved community confidence and a visible deterrent effect in the previously problematic area.
“We’ve seen a real drop in incidents, and the council now has the evidence they need to taken meaningful action against offenders. By combining Ward’s expertise with Reconeyez’ innovative, solar-powered surveillance technology, we’ve helped transform a persistent fly-tipping hotspot into a monitored, low-maintenance area. The solution not only reduced costs but also provided the tools for enforcement — a clear demonstration of how smart security technology can combat environmental crime,” shares Hayley.
The Council Officer from County Council comments, “Our partnership with Ward, and the deployment of the Reconeyez system has delivered substantial benefits for our service and the communities we support. From the initial site surveys through to installation and ongoing monitoring, the service we’ve received has been consistently professional, responsive, and tailored to our needs. Their ongoing support and regular updates have ensured we remain informed and confident in the system’s effectiveness, and their proactive identification of improvements which result in a reduced cost to us has been invaluable.
For us, the system provides robust surveillance tailored for our site, which has enabled us to stop fly-tipping incidents, resulting in a budget saving for not paying the associated clean-up costs. The system’s advanced detection and evidence-gathering capabilities, along with the proactive and responsive monitoring by Ward, have empowered my team to be able to take immediate and meaningful action against offenders, leading to a visible reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour, a safer and more stable environment, and improved living space for our residents and the general environment for the wider community. Adopting this innovative approach to manage and monitor our unoccupied, vulnerable land has not only improved community confidence but also demonstrated how technology can transform persistent problem areas into safe, well-monitored spaces”.