“Passionate” colleagues protecting communities from environmental hazards.
“Passionate” colleagues at Trent & Dove are tackling fly-tipping head-on to protect their communities from environmental hazards.
Our Housing Officers are taking proactive steps to identify those responsible, with growing success. Staff often go above and beyond to help customers thrive, reflecting our mission to Transform Homes, Lives, and Communities.
Motivated by “sheer determination”, our Housing Team now wear gloves and search through rubbish dumped across Burton and Uttoxeter, looking for clues to identify offenders. The evidence is then passed to East Staffordshire Borough Council’s Enforcement Team for further action.
Housing Officers very regularly take part in fly-tipping amnesties
While the team regularly conducts patch walks with council colleagues and Staffordshire Police, the proactive campaign took off when Housing Officer Beverley Belkadi challenged fly-tippers dumping a sofa and armchair. She offered them a choice: dispose of it properly or pay for removal - and issued a strong verbal warning.
Beverley said fly-tipping is a persistent issue reported by customers, and housing officers investigate every case.
She said:
“It’s an environmental hazard and looks untidy. We thoroughly investigate - checking rubbish for addresses, door-knocking, and reviewing camera footage. We won’t stop.
“Fly-tipping disrespects our communities and costs money that could be better spent on improving homes. We’re passionate and have sheer determination to make our neighbourhoods presentable and safe.
“Sheer determination guides us to discover who disrespects their communities, and we educate them. It serves as a warning.”
Trent & Dove’s Head of Housing, Pratik Popat, said:
“I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and determination our Housing Team shows in tackling fly-tipping. They go above and beyond every day to protect our communities and ensure our neighbourhoods remain safe, clean, and welcoming places to live.
“Their proactive approach reflects our core commitment to transforming homes, lives, and communities. Protecting our residents and their environment isn’t just part of the job - it’s a responsibility we take seriously.”