Report & chase fly-tipping · Leith

What “done” looks like

Each pile has a dated photo, a report reference, and either clearance or a written chase. Patterns have a short councillor note with a list of refs — not a confrontation on the street.

Effort: 1–3 hours over 1–4 weeks

Why this matters here

Leith · this ward only

Repeated dumping in Leith is a service and safety issue. Use exact pins. Do not invent “known dumpers”. CSS Crime may show wider context — your case is still place-based.

Before you start

Never confront people dumping waste.
Photos of waste/place only — no faces or number plates if avoidable.
One spot per report when the system works best that way.
Do not confront people dumping waste. Document and report only.

Letter for this ward

Prefills this ward. Fill the square brackets, then send. Councillor inboxes are not held — use WriteToThem.

Send to

Fly-tipping chase — Leith

Subject: Fly-tipping chase — Leith

Dear Councillors,

I am a resident of Leith ward (City of Edinburgh).

Fly-tipping / dumped waste at [PLACE]. Police multi-member ward files do not publish fly-tipping as its own total, so I am not inventing a count — I am asking about this exact place. Reference: [council / photo date].

Held public figures for this ward (Community Shield Scotland — official sources only):
• Police recorded 3,008 crimes in this ward in 2024–25 (301 more than 2023–24). Source: Police Scotland multi-member ward figures — management information, not official statistics.
• Children in low income: 12.3% — 371 children · before housing costs · FYE 2025. Source: DWP CiLIF.
• 15.9% of people here live in Scotland’s most deprived fifth of areas. Source: SIMD 2020v2, rolled from data zones to this ward.
• In the 2022 local election, Scottish National Party led on first preferences (32.6% of first preferences).
• Community assets held for this ward: 44 (4 schools · 5 GP · 6 pharmacy).

What I am asking:
1. Confirm the report and clearance date
2. Say what will stop it returning to the same spot
3. A written reply within 14 days

These counts describe the ward. They do not say who committed a crime or who is to blame. I am not asking you to treat residents as offenders.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Street or area in this ward]
[Date]

Open blank email

Paste into WriteToThem — we do not hold personal inboxes.

Path from idea to done

Seven fixed phases — skip only when the guide says so

Name the spot
Street + landmark or pin.
~5 min
Check open reports
FixMyStreet / council fly-tip form.
~10 minFixMyStreet

Funding (if needed)

No-money first · local · national

No-money path

Reporting and chasing is free. Do not crowdfund private clearance of public land without council agreement.

Local routes

City of Edinburgh — Community Grants Fund
small
Official council funding hub. Programmes open and close — check the live page for eligibility and deadlines.
Official page
Foundation Scotland — funds near you
small
Many local and thematic funds are searchable by postcode or council area. Check live eligibility and deadlines.
Official page
National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland)
larger
Scotland programmes from micro to larger community grants. Always use the current official programme list.
Official page
Council in-kind support
micro
Bags and collection for clean-ups, room hire, inspections, or land permission. Often more useful than a small grant. Ask the service team in writing.
Search your council website — check the live page
Community council grants / endorsement
micro
Some community councils hold small pots or can endorse applications. Find yours on this ward’s Your representatives page and ask at a public meeting.
Search your council website — check the live page

National routes (Scotland)

Keep Scotland Beautiful
micro
Clean-ups, litter and community environmental action.
Official page

Amounts and deadlines change. Always use the official page. We never invent figures.

Downloads

Pre-filled with Leith and Edinburgh where useful

Full guide (idea → done)
00-flytip-chase-guide.txt
Evidence checklist
01-flytip-chase-evidence-checklist.txt
Fly-tip log
02-flytip-log.csv

Official links

Deeper information

If you’re stuck · common mistakes

Stuck paths

Closed without clearance: new photo + chase with old ref.
Private land: report to council/SEPA pathways as advised on official pages — do not enter.

Common mistakes

Confronting dumpers.
No reference numbers.
Vague “always dumping here” with no pins or dates.

All actions Your representatives