Report fly tipping
Overview
Information on the types of waste, the types of land commonly affected, the consequences of getting caught and the impacts of fly-tipping.
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste and is a crime.
Types of waste that are fly-tipped include:
- general household waste
- appliances like fridges and washing machines
- waste from building and demolition work
- animal carcasses
- vehicle parts and tyres
- hazardous waste like oil, asbestos sheeting and chemicals
The types of land most commonly affected by fly-tipping include:
- land near to public waste tips
- roadsides and private land, particularly on the outskirts of urban areas
- back alleys
- derelict land
If you get caught fly-tipping, you can be:
- fined up to 拢50,000 in Magistrates' Courts
- faced with unlimited fines in higher courts
- faced with community punishment orders or a prison sentence of up to five years
If you're convicted of fly-tipping offences, you can be made to pay the costs of enforcement and investigation, as well as the clean-up costs.
Impacts of fly-tipping
There are many impacts of fly-tipping.
Fly-tipping:
- is a criminal activity that can cause serious pollution of the environment, can be a risk to human health and can harm wildlife and farm animals
- spoils the local neighbourhoods and quality of life
- costs around 拢100 million in total to clean up
- costs local councils around 拢44 million each year to clear up
- is seen as a major problem by landowners and affects 67% of farmers
- takes work away from legitimate waste management companies