Fly-tipping

Fly-tipping banner

Fly-tipped waste generally consists of items of rubbish such as fridges, mattresses, builders rubble and tyres dumped illegally from a vehicle instead of being disposed of properly. Fly-tipping is expensive to remove and unsightly.​

Removing fly-tipping on public land – what we do

We are responsible for looking after public land to make sure it is clean and presentable for everyone to enjoy. If you report fly-tipping on any public land such as roads, parks and town centres we will:

  • Inform the Environmental Enforcement Team to investigate – to look for evidence of who the fly-tipped waste belongs to.
  • Schedule a team to remove the fly-tipped waste within 15 working days of when it was reported to us.
  • If the waste is hazardous or causing an obstruction which is dangerous, we will remove or make it safe within 24 hours of when it was reported to us. Please do not report waste as hazardous or dangerous, unless it clearly contains asbestos, chemical or oil drums, gas canisters, paint, or needles and drug paraphernalia.

Fly-tipping on private land

We cannot remove fly-tipping which is on private land. If you see fly-tipping:

How to report fly-tipping on public land

You can use the online form on the link below to report fly-tipping on public land. Please tell us as much as you can about the fly-tipped waste:

  • The day, date and time you saw the tipping
  • How many people were fly-tipping and what they looked like. Any vehicles involved - their make, colour and registration number
  • What was tipped and how much

Did you know?

Our Environmental Enforcement Team will actively try to find evidence of people fly-tipping and take action against them. We will also take action to get landowners to clear up rubbish on private land.

The fly-tipping of controlled waste is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £50,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court) or an offender can even be sent to prison. It is also an offence to permit fly-tipping.

If you see somebody fly-tipping

If you see somebody fly-tipping, please make a note of:

  • The day, date and time you saw the tipping
  • How many people were fly-tipping and what they looked like. Any vehicles involved - their make, colour and registration number
  • What was tipped and how much

Report fly-tipping

Vehicle seizure notices for suspected waste crime

We have powers to seize a vehicle, trailer or mobile plant and any contents if it's believed it is being, has been or will be used to commit a waste crime, such as fly-tipping.

Vehicles and their contents can be seized, without a warrant, under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 or the Environmental Protection Act 1990. A vehicle can be seized if:

  • it has been used in fly-tipping
  • it is driven by somebody who is not registered as a waste carrier
  • it is used to transfer waste to somebody who is not registered as a waste carrier
  • waste has been escaping from the vehicle

Vehicle seizure notices for 2023/24

These notices are issued in accordance with requirements of the Control of Waste (Dealing with Seized Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. We must make this information available to the public for at least 15 days

Details of vehicles we have seized in the current financial year: