From black bags dumped on rural lanes to builders’ rubble tipped in beauty spots, fly-tipping is a growing problem across the UK. Not only is it unsightly, it’s illegal – and landowners and local communities are often left to deal with the consequences.
Here, we explain the difference between fly-tipping and littering, outline the penalties, and share practical advice on how to report it and protect your waste from being dumped illegally.
What is fly-tipping?
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land where it is not permitted to do so. This can be household or commercial waste.
The main difference between fly-tipping and littering is the scale and nature of the waste. Fly-tipping tends to be larger quantities, while littering is smaller items – often food-related.
Fly-tipping carries a more serious criminal penalty, while littering is an offence that typically results in a Fixed Penalty Notice. The amount charged will vary between councils but tends to be between £100 and £500, depending on how quickly the fine is paid.
What are the penalties and punishments for fly-tipping?
People who fly-tip can be fined up to £50,000 and receive up to five years’ imprisonment.
If your waste is fly-tipped by someone else on your behalf, you could also receive a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice or an unlimited fine at court.
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How to report fly-tipping or illegal waste dumping
The process for reporting fly-tipping is actually quite easy. Head to gov.uk/report-flytipping and enter the postcode of the incident to find the relevant local council information on reporting fly-tipping.
You’ll often need to give the council as much information as possible: the location and details of what’s been dumped there. If you saw the rubbish being dumped, you can also report details of what the person looked like, and their vehicle make, model and registration if they had one.
If you took photos or have CCTV or Ring doorbell footage, you can also submit this to the relevant local council.
How to prevent fly-tipping
If you need your rubbish collecting, find a registered waste carrier in your area on the Environment Agency’s website – and check the following advice before arranging your collection.
If your waste is fly-tipped by someone else on your behalf, you could receive a £400 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine at court, so it’s really important to make sure your waste collectors are registered.
- Don’t allow anyone to take your rubbish unless they have proof of registration. Make a note of their vehicle’s registration.
- Check that the waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency’s website.
- Refuse any unexpected offers to have your waste removed and taken away.
- Ask how your rubbish will be disposed of, and ask for evidence of this.
- Make sure you receive paperwork from the waste carrier: an invoice, waste transfer note or receipt. This must include details of the waste removal and the contact details of the waste carrier.
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Top image: Fly-tipping by the River Eden, Cumbria (credit: Getty Images)
