North Kensington streets reopened after 300‑tonne carnival clean‑up
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea deployed 200 staff and 30 waste vehicles to clear waste and restore roads following the Notting Hill Carnival
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The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) finished a two‑night operation that removed more than 300 tonnes of waste from North Kensington on Monday and Tuesday, the council said. The work allowed roads and pavements to reopen for residents after the Notting Hill Carnival’s 60th anniversary, which attracted over two million participants.
Scale of the operation
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RBKC confirmed that around 200 staff members worked through the night, supported by 30 waste‑collection vehicles, to clear the debris left across the carnival footprint, as reported by the BBC. The council added that about 30 percent of the material collected is expected to be recycled. After the bulk removal, street‑washing teams moved in to rinse roads and pavements, a task that will continue through the week and is scheduled to finish on 5 September.
Police activity and fatal incident
Met Police confirmed 636 arrests during the two‑day event, with 242 on Sunday and 394 on Monday, according to the Standard. Police noted a marked reduction in serious violence compared with previous years. The force also reported that live facial‑recognition technology generated 214 alerts, leading to 121 arrests and the interception of 86 registered sex offenders. A separate incident involved a man believed to be in his 20s who entered a canal near Meanwhile Gardens after being chased by officers; he was pronounced dead at a central London hospital, the police said.
Notting Hill Carnival policing costs rise to £15.7m
Metropolitan Police deployed over 7,000 officers and banned hundreds from the event.
Council's follow‑up services
RBKC announced a free cleaning service for residential basements and frontages that were impacted by the carnival, as noted by the Standard. A dedicated graffiti‑removal programme will operate over the coming month, targeting walls and surfaces affected by the festivities. Council lead member for transport, parks and clean streets Josh Rendall said the rapid clean‑up was essential for residents living on the route, and he thanked the staff who worked overnight.
While the borough slept, hundreds of our staff were working through the night clearing hundreds of tonnes of waste, washing the streets and getting North Kensington moving again.
Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Transport, Parks and Clean Streets
Questions this report answers
+How much waste was removed after the carnival?
More than 300 tonnes of waste were cleared from North Kensington, according to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The figure includes material collected by staff and waste vehicles over two overnight shifts.
+What did the police report about arrests and the fatal incident?
Met Police recorded 636 arrests during the carnival, with a reduction in serious violence, as reported by the Standard. Police also said a man in his 20s died after entering a canal while being pursued by officers near Meanwhile Gardens.
+What services is the council offering residents after the clean‑up?
The council is providing a free cleaning service for affected residential basements and frontages, and a graffiti‑removal programme will run over the next month. Street‑washing teams will continue cleaning roads until the work is completed by 5 September.
+When will the clean‑up work be finished?
Street‑washing and related clean‑up activities are expected to be completed by Saturday, 5 September, according to RBKC. The council has scheduled the final stages of the operation to ensure roads and pavements are fully restored for residents.
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