Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on any land.
You can report fly-tipping to us online, please click on the button above.
Householder's Duty of Care
You are legally responsible for disposing of your rubbish correctly. If your rubbish is illegally deposited you could be fined up to £5,000.
If someone else disposes of your rubbish for you, make sure you have their name, address, vehicle description and vehicle registration number. Any person that takes payment for removing your rubbish must be licensed. Always ask to see a copy of their licence.
If you are in any doubt as to whether someone is licensed you can check by telephoning the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506.
To view other licensed waste carriers/ brokers, please use the below link:
https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
Simple rules for reporting fly-tipping
- do not remove any evidence found from the fly-tipping location e.g. addressed letters
- be as specific as possible when describing where the incident has occurred
- if you see the incident occurring do not approach the people involved
- if you see a person/vehicle involved in an environmental crime take as many details as you can e.g. description of the person or vehicle registration
- you may need to provide a witness statement and/or attend court in subsequent legal action
Who is responsible for removing fly-tipped waste?
If the fly-tipping is on a public highway or public land we will investigate and arrange for the waste to be cleared. We cannot remove waste from privately owned land, as this is the landowner's responsibility.
Who would fly-tip their waste?
The correct disposal of waste requires time and money. Some individuals and companies try to beat the system by disposing of it illegally. Criminal groups can often make large profits from activities such as organising illegal fly-tipping. This is why it is important that we prosecute those who commit environmental crimes.
Why does it matter?
Illegally dumping waste can be very harmful to animals and the environment, and can lead to the pollution of land and water courses. Fly-tipping can also harm human health and be detrimental to the quality of life for the people nearby.
Prosecution
Those caught fly-tipping can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Every year councils spend a considerable amount of time and money removing this waste from the landscape. We will always try to remove fly-tipping as soon as possible. The site will be investigated for evidence and the appropriate legal action taken.