Fly-tipping

Fly tipping is the 'illegal deposit of any waste on to land that has no licence to accept waste.' It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to fly tip any material. Conviction could lead to a heavy fine.

Waste includes: general household waste, larger domestic items including fridges and mattresses; garden refuse; and commercial waste such as builders’ rubble, clinical waste and tyres. Such waste can occur in any quantities in any mixture in any location.

We provide ample facilities for the removal of waste and unwanted goods and materials. Follow the link for information on our household waste and recycling sites.

Sometimes people choose not to use these facilities and dump their waste indiscriminately. Fly tipping can happen anywhere: housing estates, grass verges, private land, garage sites, woodland, public open spaces, cemeteries, even neighbours' gardens. The list goes on - nowhere is safe.

Your responsibility

If you are asking a third party, for example a builder or contractor, to dispose of waste on your behalf you should ensure they are a registered waste carrier. You are responsible for checking they are registered, so always ask to see their certificate. Always get a receipt confirming what they have taken and where they have disposed of it and details of any payment made. If the waste turns up later having been fly tipped and you do not have this proof, you will still be legally responsible for the waste. Follow the link to our Enviro-crime pages to find out more about how we deal with offenders.

Education

Educating people, showing the real costs of fly tipping to the community, the environment and Council Tax payers is essential. We do this by visits to schools, community groups and other groups. Our Recycling team give presentations showing the effects of fly tipping in rural and urban areas of the city and explain how waste can be disposed of correctly.

A number of our departments work together, including Housing, Recycling and Commercial Waste. Together they aim to prevent fly tipping occurring and clear it up quickly when it does happen and if possible prosecute the offenders.

Follow the link to view our service standards page. 

The consequences of fly tipping

The consequences of fly tipping can be far reaching. For example in rural areas not only is it an eyesore and blight on an otherwise beautiful location, but it can pose a very real hazard to wildlife and farm animals. In more urban areas there is always a risk to health and safety of individuals. There is also a potential public health risk depending on the contents of the tipping.

In both cases, it can cause long lasting contamination, pollution and put human health at risk. In both town and country locations the actual costs of removal of the rubbish includes officer’s time, labour, vehicle and tipping costs. This can be extremely expensive to both private land owners and Council Tax payers.

What the public can do to help

Fly tipping is illegal and dangerous, it can ruin the appearance of an area and bring down the neighbourhood.

Don't put up with it. Report it.  

Contact us

Follow the link for information on what to do if you see somone fly-tipping and how to report fly-tipping.

Fly Tipping is a Crime. Help Stamp It Out.