Fly Tipping

LET’S HELP STOP FLY-TIPPING TOGETHER!

If you witness an instance of fly-tipping or come across illegally dumped rubbish, let us know and L&S will contact the proper authorities to ensure it is dealt with.

What to do if someone has fly-tipped on your land

It may seem more than a little unfair, however, if you find that a fly-tipping offence has been committed on your land then it is your responsibility as the landowner to safely dispose of the waste and pay the costs associated for doing so. However, there are a few things you must do both before and after you deal with the abandoned waste.

What is the penalty for fly-tipping?

Prosecution for fly-tipping is enforceable by the Local Authority and Environment Agency under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Depending on the severity of the offence, those committing the crime could end up in prison for up to five years, or be issued with a fine of up to £50,000.

Less severe fly-tipping offences can land the perpetrator in prison for up to 12 months or they will be made to pay the cost of waste removal. Some may be given a fixed penalty of £100, mainly for household fly-tipping. This fine can also be given to homeowners who fail to observe local bin collection days, thus leaving waste to accumulate unnecessarily.

Businesses can also be fined for fly-tipping offences. For example, a business that has failed to register themselves as a licensed waste carrier will be made to pay a fine of £300 and served a Fixed Penalty Notice.

If a company breaches its responsibility to dispose of waste safely and responsibly, they could be given a fine of up to £5,000. Repeat offenders may have the use of their vehicles highly restricted to prevent them from committing the offence again.

Check out our Duty of Care Guide for more information.

How to prevent fly-tipping on your land

As previously mentioned, unfortunately, the responsibility to clear the land lies with its owner. To prevent offenders from fly-tipping on your property, follow these simple steps:

• Ensure roadside gateways are gated or blocked by other obstacles, such as large logs or visible wire. If access isn’t required on a regular basis you may also want to consider installing L&S Barrier Blocks at the entrance to your site
• Ensure all gates are closed and locked when not in use
• Improve visibility around the area. Trim back hedges and cut back tree branches around your property. Fly-tippers are most likely to dispose of waste in areas where they cannot or are least likely to be seen
• Install or improve the lighting around your property to make the perimeter more visible
• Try installing security cameras, pointing onto the areas that are most likely to be fly-tipped on. If you’re on a budget, you can buy dummy cameras, which will trick offenders into thinking it’s fully operational and may record them in the act. This may act as a deterrent from dumping waste on or around your property