What Happens if My Waste is Fly-Tipped?

With incidences of reported fly-tipping increasing by 16% in 2020*, it is now more importance that ever to know what your responsibility are in disposing of your waste and what happens if that waste is fly-tipped by an illegitimate waste carrier.

What is fly tipping?

Fly-tipping is the illegal disposal of household, industrial, commercial waste . Waste includes garden waste and larger household items such as fridges and mattresses.

Local authorities are responsible for investigating, clearing and taking appropriate enforcement action in relation to small scale fly-tipping on public land. if the fly-tipped waste is of a larger scale (more than a lorry load), the Environment Agency is responsible for clearing it and investigating. unfortunately, on private land, where a large number of incidences occur, the landowner is responsible for removing the waste that is fly-tipped.

Penalties for fly-tipping

For the waste carrier, who fly-tips the waste, there is currently no minimum fine set out for unlawfully depositing of waste. There are a number of penalties, including fines and having vehicles sized. Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and can be punished with a maximum fine of £50,000.

The most serious, serial offences are dealt with by the Crown Court, that has powers to issue an unlimited fine and 5 years in prison.

in 2020, 'Plymouth's worst fly-tipper was jailed for 20 months after a year long fly-tipping spree. **

If you are a householder and your waste is fly-tipped, and you are traced as the owner, you can receive £400 fine.

How to avoid your waste being fly-tipped?

As we have seen, fly-tipping is a massive problem and it is why the S.C.R.A.P. code when dealing with waste removal is so important.

S - Suspect all waste carriers; do not let them take your waste until they have proven themselves to be legitimate

C - Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency's website.

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

R - Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away.

A - Ask what will happen to your rubbish and seek evidence that it is going to be disposed of appropriately.

P - Paperwork must be obtained: a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details.

It is so important to use a trustworthy service who have a waste carrier’s licence. If you have waste that needs disposing of and you want to be sure to use the services of a legal and insured waste carrier, call Yorjunk on 01603 60 40 11.

*https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england/fly-tipping-statistics-for-england-2020-to-2021

**https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plymouth-s-worst-fly-tipper-jailed-after-3-years-on-the-run