FAQs

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land that doesn’t have a licence to accept it. It includes everything from leaving a single bag of rubbish to abandoning large items like furniture, building materials, or hazardous waste. Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under UK law and can result in hefty fines or prosecution.

Examples of Fly-Tipping –
🚛 Dumping household or garden waste in lay-bys, car parks, or private fields
🏗️ Abandoning construction materials, rubble, or soil from building work
🛋️ Leaving old furniture, white goods, or mattresses in alleyways or on verges
🧴 Disposing of tyres, paint, or chemicals without using a licensed waste facility

The Law on Fly-Tipping –
⚖️ Covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
💷 Offenders can face unlimited fines, seizure of vehicles, or up to 5 years in prison
🚓 Both individuals and businesses can be prosecuted, even if someone else dumps waste on their behalf

Who Is Responsible for Cleanup –
🏢 Private landowners must clear waste dumped on their property (often at their own expense)
🏛️ Local councils clear waste from public land and roadsides
📸 Councils and landowners can install CCTV and signage to deter offenders and support prosecutions

Prevention Tips for Landowners –
🔒 Install height barriers or gates to restrict vehicle access
📹 Use CCTV and clear signage warning of fines and prosecution
🧱 Regularly inspect vulnerable sites for early detection

At Aremco Barriers, we help landowners, councils, and businesses prevent fly-tipping with UK-manufactured steel barriers, gates, and bollards — protecting open land, car parks, and service roads from unauthorised dumping.

If fly-tipped waste ends up on private land, the landowner is responsible for removing it — even though they didn’t dump it there. Unfortunately, local councils are not legally required to clear waste from private property, although they can sometimes offer advice or support.

Who Handles What –
🏢 Private Landowners – must arrange and pay for removal and disposal through a licensed waste carrier.
🏛️ Local Councils – only clear fly-tipping from public highways, parks, and council-owned land.
🚓 Police and Environment Agency – investigate cases involving large-scale dumping, hazardous waste, or organised crime.

What Landowners Should Do –
📸 Record evidence – take photos of the waste, location, and any vehicle or person involved.
📋 Report the incident – to your local council, Environment Agency, or Crimestoppers.
♻️ Use licensed waste carriers only – to avoid liability if waste is mishandled later.
💷 Keep receipts and documentation for insurance or legal claims.

Can You Claim Costs Back? –
💰 Some councils offer discretionary grants or cost-sharing schemes for cleanup.
🏗️ Landowners can sometimes recover costs through insurance (check your policy).
⚖️ If offenders are identified, you may claim damages through the courts — though this can be difficult.

Prevention Is Best –
🔒 Secure entrances with height barriers, bollards, or gates.
📹 Install CCTV and signage warning of fines and prosecution.
🌳 Maintain clear sightlines to discourage dumping in hidden areas.

Both local councils and the Environment Agency (EA) have strong powers to investigate and prosecute fly-tipping offences in the UK. Their responsibilities depend on the scale, type, and location of the incident — with the EA handling larger or more serious cases.

Local Council Powers –
🏛️ Councils deal with most fly-tipping on public land, roadsides, and council-owned property.
⚖️ Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils can:
 • Investigate reports and collect evidence such as CCTV footage or witness statements
 • Issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) — usually between £150 and £400
 • Prosecute offenders in court, with fines up to £50,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment
📋 Councils can also seize vehicles suspected of being used in fly-tipping offences.

Environment Agency Powers –
🌍 The EA investigates large-scale, commercial, or hazardous fly-tipping incidents.
🚨 Powers include:
 • Entering land or premises to inspect and gather evidence
 • Seizing vehicles and equipment used in illegal dumping
 • Interviewing suspects under caution and preparing criminal prosecutions
💷 Serious offences can lead to unlimited fines and up to 5 years in prison.

Joint Operations –
🤝 Councils and the EA often work together with the police and HMRC for enforcement.
📹 They use CCTV, drone surveillance, and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to track offenders.

How Landowners Can Help –
📸 Report incidents immediately via GOV.UK or local council portals.
🔒 Secure vulnerable land with bollards, gates, or height barriers.
💡 Install CCTV and warning signage to deter offenders and aid investigations.

Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence in the UK, and penalties can be severe, depending on the size, impact, and intent of the dumping. Both individuals and businesses can face fines, vehicle seizure, or even imprisonment for illegally disposing of waste.

Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) –
💷 Councils can issue on-the-spot fines for smaller fly-tipping offences.
📋 Typical fines range from £150 to £400, depending on local authority policy.
⚠️ Paying an FPN avoids prosecution, but unpaid fines can lead to a court summons.

Court Prosecution Penalties –
⚖️ Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, offenders face:
 • Unlimited fines for serious offences
 • Up to 12 months’ imprisonment (Magistrates’ Court)
 • Up to 5 years in prison (Crown Court)
🚓 Courts can also order the seizure and destruction of vehicles used in the offence.

Commercial or Hazardous Waste Offences –
🏗️ The Environment Agency handles major or repeat fly-tipping cases.
🌍 Fines can exceed £50,000, and businesses risk loss of operating licences or director disqualification.

Additional Consequences –
📉 Criminal record or damage to business reputation
🧾 Requirement to pay cleanup and investigation costs
🚫 For companies — loss of future contracts with councils or developers

Preventing Fly-Tipping –
🔒 Secure land entrances with height barriers, bollards, or gates
📹 Use CCTV and clear warning signage showing penalties and reporting contacts
🏞️ Regularly inspect vulnerable areas to detect dumping early

Yes — anyone can report fly-tipping in the UK, and doing so helps councils and the Environment Agency catch offenders and prevent future dumping. Reports can be made quickly and anonymously through official channels online or by phone.

How to Report Fly-Tipping (Public Land) –
🏛️ Contact your local council via their website or the GOV.UK fly-tipping reporting tool.
📍 You’ll need to provide:
 • The exact location (postcode or map reference)
 • Description of the waste and how much there is
 • Date and time it was spotted
 • Details of any vehicles, people, or CCTV footage involved
🚓 Councils can then arrange removal and start an investigation.

How to Report Fly-Tipping (Private Land) –
🏗️ Landowners should report incidents to their local council and the Environment Agency.
📸 Take photos as evidence and avoid touching the waste, especially if it may be hazardous.
💷 Landowners are responsible for cleanup but can request advice or assistance from their local authority.

Emergency or Hazardous Waste –
🚨 If the dumped material poses an immediate danger (chemicals, asbestos, or large-scale industrial waste), contact:
 • Environment Agency Incident Hotline: 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours, free)
 • Police (999) if a crime is in progress

Why Reporting Helps –
📹 Reports help build evidence for prosecutions and identify repeat dumping sites
🔒 Councils can target high-risk areas with CCTV and physical barriers

If someone dumps waste on your property, it’s classed as fly-tipping, and you should deal with it carefully and lawfully. Even though it’s not your fault, the landowner is responsible for clearing it — but it’s important to report the incident to the right authorities first.

Step-by-Step: What to Do –
1️⃣ Do not touch the waste – it may contain hazardous or sharp materials.
2️⃣ Record evidence – take photos of the waste, vehicle registrations, and any people involved.
3️⃣ Report it immediately – to your local council and the Environment Agency (especially for large or dangerous loads).
 • Use the GOV.UK reporting form or call the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
4️⃣ Arrange removal – hire a licensed waste carrier to clear the site safely and legally.
5️⃣ Keep all documentation – invoices, reports, and photos can help with insurance or prosecution.

Do Not:
🚫 Burn or bury the waste — it could be illegal or cause contamination.
🚫 Attempt to confront offenders — contact the police instead if you witnessed the incident.

Who Pays for Removal –
💷 Sadly, private landowners are responsible for clearing waste on their land.
🏛️ Some councils may assist or offer grants for cleanup in certain cases.

Prevent Future Dumping –
🔒 Install height barriers, swing gates, or bollards to restrict vehicle access.
📹 Add CCTV and warning signage to deter offenders.
🌿 Maintain visibility at entrances to discourage concealed dumping.

At Aremco Barriers, we help landowners across the UK protect their property from fly-tipping with UK-manufactured steel barriers, gates, and bollards — built to stop unauthorised vehicle access and protect your land long-term.

The best way for landowners to stop fly-tipping is to make it physically difficult for vehicles to access the land and to create a visible deterrent using barriers, signage, and surveillance. A few strategic measures can dramatically reduce the risk of illegal dumping.

Physical Barriers –
🔒 Height-restriction barriers – stop vans and trucks from entering fields, car parks, or access roads.
🚧 Swing gates or heavy-duty bollards – control access points and lock securely after hours.
🏗️ Earth bunds, boulders, or planters – provide a natural, low-maintenance boundary for rural or open sites.

Visibility and Surveillance –
📹 Install CCTV cameras or motion-activated wildlife cameras to capture vehicle number plates.
💡 Use floodlights or motion lighting to make offenders feel exposed.
📋 Display warning signs clearly — for example, “No Dumping – Offenders Will Be Prosecuted” or “CCTV in Operation”.

Site Management and Maintenance –
🧱 Keep gates closed and locked whenever possible.
🌿 Maintain clear sightlines — overgrown access points make ideal hiding spots for dumpers.
📞 Work with neighbours or local businesses to report suspicious vehicles quickly.
♻️ Dispose of your own waste responsibly — never leave materials near entrances, as it encourages more tipping.

Working with Authorities –
🏛️ Contact your local council or Environment Agency if your land has been repeatedly targeted.
🚔 They can advise on CCTV positioning, signage, and joint enforcement strategies.

At Aremco Barriers, we help landowners, councils, and businesses prevent fly-tipping before it starts — with UK-manufactured steel height barriers, bollards, and gates designed to block vehicle access, protect land, and reduce cleanup costs.

If fly-tipping occurs on your land, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the waste is safely and lawfully removed, even though you didn’t dump it. Unfortunately, the law treats fly-tipped waste on private property differently from public land — meaning landowners must handle and pay for cleanup themselves.

Your Legal Responsibilities –
⚖️ Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, landowners must:
 • Arrange for removal by a licensed waste carrier
 • Dispose of waste at an authorised facility
 • Keep waste transfer notes and invoices as proof of legal disposal
🚫 It’s an offence to burn, bury, or illegally move dumped waste — even if it’s on your own property.

What You Should Do Immediately –
📸 Take photos of the waste, location, and any vehicles or people involved.
📋 Report it to your local council and the Environment Agency (especially for hazardous or large-scale incidents).
♻️ Do not touch the waste — it could be contaminated or dangerous.

Failure to Act –
🚨 If the waste is not cleared and causes pollution, harm, or obstruction, the Environment Agency or council could take enforcement action.
💷 Cleanup costs and potential fines may increase if the site remains untreated.

How to Prevent Repeat Offences –
🔒 Secure entrances with height barriers, bollards, or gates.
📹 Install CCTV and warning signage to deter offenders.
🌿 Maintain clear access routes and good lighting to make dumping less appealing.

Yes — in the UK, only registered waste carriers are legally allowed to collect, transport, or dispose of waste. These rules are designed to prevent fly-tipping and environmental crime, ensuring that waste is handled safely and traceably.

The Law on Waste Carriers –
⚖️ Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, anyone who transports waste for profit or on behalf of others must:
 • Be registered with the Environment Agency (or SEPA in Scotland).
 • Hold a valid waste carrier licence — either upper tier (for commercial activity) or lower tier (for personal/business waste).
🚛 It’s illegal to use or operate as a waste carrier without registration.

How to Check a Waste Carrier –
🔍 Use the Environment Agency’s online public register:
 👉 https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
📋 Ask for their registration number and Waste Transfer Note (WTN) for every collection.
💷 Always keep receipts — if your waste is fly-tipped later, you could be held responsible.

Penalties for Using Unlicensed Carriers –
🚨 Fines of up to £5,000 or unlimited penalties for serious offences.
♻️ If your waste is illegally dumped, you may be charged for cleanup and investigation costs.

Landowner Best Practice –
✅ Only use licensed waste carriers for removal of fly-tipped or site waste.
🔒 Store waste securely until collection.
📸 Keep records and photos of waste disposal for at least two years.

In the UK, any waste dumped without permission or a licence can be classed as fly-tipping — regardless of whether it’s household, commercial, or industrial. Fly-tipping includes everything from a single black bin bag to large-scale dumping of building or hazardous materials.

Household Waste –
🏠 Includes items most commonly found in domestic clear-outs:
 • Furniture, mattresses, and carpets
 • Garden waste, soil, and grass cuttings
 • White goods such as fridges and washing machines
 • Bags of household rubbish or recycling
🚫 Even small amounts dumped in a lay-by, alleyway, or car park count as fly-tipping.

Construction and Commercial Waste –
🏗️ Includes materials from building, renovation, or landscaping work:
 • Bricks, rubble, plasterboard, timber, and insulation
 • Soil, gravel, and mixed site waste
 • Packaging, pallets, or trade waste from business sites
⚖️ Businesses have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste using a licensed carrier — dumping it illegally can lead to prosecution.

Hazardous or Industrial Waste –
☠️ Includes substances that can harm people or the environment:
 • Chemicals, paints, and solvents
 • Asbestos, oils, and fuel containers
 • Clinical or biohazardous waste from healthcare settings
🚓 These offences are treated most seriously by the Environment Agency, with unlimited fines and potential prison sentences.

Who Can Be Prosecuted –
⚠️ Both the person who dumped the waste and the individual or business who arranged disposal (if unlicensed) can face prosecution.

How to Prevent It –
🔒 Restrict access with height barriers, swing gates, or bollards
📹 Use CCTV and warning signage to deter offenders
📞 Report any dumping to your local council or the Environment Agency

Fly-tipping costs the UK tens of millions of pounds every year — affecting both local councils (who clear public land) and private landowners (who must pay for cleanup themselves). The costs include not only removal but also site repair, enforcement, and deterrent measures like CCTV and barriers.

The Cost to Councils –
🏛️ According to DEFRA, local authorities in England spend over £50 million each year clearing fly-tipped waste.
🚛 Councils are responsible for public roads, parks, and highways, and the costs cover:
 • Collection and safe disposal of waste
 • Labour, transport, and equipment
 • Legal and enforcement action against offenders
📉 This doesn’t include hidden costs such as reduced tourism appeal and environmental damage.

The Cost to Private Landowners –
🏗️ Private landowners and businesses spend an estimated £10–15 million annually dealing with fly-tipping.
💷 Typical costs include:
 • Waste removal fees (especially if it’s hazardous or bulky)
 • Repairs to fences, gates, or access roads
 • Security upgrades — barriers, lighting, or CCTV
🚫 Landowners are not reimbursed by councils and must use licensed waste carriers for clearance.

Wider Economic and Environmental Costs –
🌍 Pollution of soil and waterways
🐾 Harm to wildlife and livestock
⚖️ Enforcement and legal costs for local authorities and the Environment Agency

Preventing Financial Loss –
🔒 Secure land entrances with height barriers, gates, or bollards
📹 Install CCTV and warning signs to deter offenders
💡 Keep entrances visible and well-lit to reduce dumping opportunities

At Aremco Barriers, we help councils, farmers, and private landowners cut fly-tipping costs by preventing access before it happens — with UK-manufactured steel barriers, swing gates, and bollards built to protect your property and your budget.

Yes — vehicles used in fly-tipping can be seized, impounded, and even destroyed under UK law. Both local councils and the Environment Agency (EA) have legal powers to take action when vehicles are used to dump waste illegally.

The Law on Vehicle Seizure –
⚖️ Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989, and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, enforcement authorities can:
🚓 Seize vehicles suspected of being used for fly-tipping
🏗️ Impound, forfeit, or destroy vehicles if the owner is convicted
💷 Impose fines, court costs, and recovery fees before a vehicle is released

Who Can Seize Vehicles –
🏛️ Local authorities – can seize and impound vehicles found fly-tipping on public land
🌍 Environment Agency – handles serious, repeat, or commercial fly-tipping cases
🚔 Police – often assist with seizure operations or stop vehicles in transit

When Vehicles Are Seized –
📸 If caught in the act or identified through CCTV or ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)
📋 When evidence links a specific vehicle to a dumping site
⚖️ Vehicles can be held for investigation or permanently confiscated following conviction

Penalties for Offenders –
💷 Unlimited fines and up to 5 years in prison
🚫 Loss of vehicle and potential ban from operating waste transport
📉 Criminal record for both individuals and businesses involved

Preventing Illegal Dumping –
🔒 Install height barriers and gates to block vehicle access to land
📹 Add CCTV and signage warning of prosecution and vehicle seizure
🏗️ Secure vulnerable entrances used by offenders with bollards or barriers

If you discover fly-tipping on your land or nearby, collecting clear and accurate evidence helps councils and the Environment Agency investigate and prosecute offenders. The goal is to gather as much information as possible — without putting yourself at risk.

What to Do First –
🚫 Do not touch or move the waste — it could be hazardous or contain sharp materials.
📞 Report it immediately to your local council or the Environment Agency (0800 80 70 60).
📋 Make sure you gather details safely before weather or cleanup affects the scene.

Best Practices for Evidence Gathering –
📸 Take clear photographs showing:
 • The type and amount of waste
 • Vehicle registration numbers (if visible)
 • Any people involved (from a safe distance)
 • The location — include landmarks or road signs
🕒 Record details such as:
 • Date and time of discovery
 • How long the waste appears to have been there
 • Direction vehicles entered or left the site
📍 Use your phone’s location data or Google Maps to pinpoint the exact spot.
📦 Keep any CCTV, dashcam, or witness footage securely stored.

Reporting Channels –
🏛️ Use your local council website or the GOV.UK fly-tipping report form.
🌍 For serious or hazardous waste, contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
🚔 If offenders are present or behaving aggressively, call police (999) immediately.

After Reporting –
✅ Keep a copy of your report and any reference number.
🧾 Store all photos and communication — this may support an investigation or insurance claim.
🔒 Once cleared, consider installing barriers, bollards, or CCTV to prevent future incidents.

Fly-tipping remains a major problem across the UK, with tens of thousands of incidents reported every month. While figures fluctuate from year to year, official data shows that the problem remains widespread — particularly in urban and rural access areas such as car parks, fields, and industrial estates.

Current Statistics (England) –
📊 According to DEFRA’s most recent figures, local authorities recorded around 1 million fly-tipping incidents in 2023–24.
🏙️ Around 65% of cases involved household waste, such as furniture, garden materials, and black bin bags.
🚛 Roughly one in five incidents involved commercial or construction waste.
🗑️ Most occurred on public highways (43%), with others on council land or private property.

Are Incidents Increasing? –
⚠️ Fly-tipping levels rose sharply during the COVID-19 lockdowns as recycling centres closed.
📈 While national numbers have slightly stabilised since, many regions still report year-on-year increases, particularly in rural and edge-of-town areas.
💬 Councils cite rising disposal costs, lack of enforcement resources, and unlicensed waste carriers as key contributors.

Regional Trends –
🌍 Urban councils like Birmingham, Manchester, and London boroughs report the highest volumes.
🌳 Rural counties see more large-scale dumping on farmland and remote access tracks.

What’s Being Done About It –
🏛️ Councils and the Environment Agency continue joint crackdowns using CCTV, ANPR, and vehicle seizures.
💷 Government schemes now fund new surveillance and barrier installations in hotspot areas.

The difference between legal waste disposal and fly-tipping comes down to permission, licensing, and intent. Legal disposal follows environmental regulations and uses authorised facilities — while fly-tipping involves dumping waste illegally on land that isn’t licensed to accept it.

Legal Waste Disposal –
♻️ Involves taking waste to a licensed tip, recycling centre, or authorised waste facility.
🚛 Must be transported by a registered waste carrier under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
📋 Each collection must include a Waste Transfer Note (WTN) showing who handled it and where it went.
✅ Keeps a full audit trail proving waste was disposed of responsibly and lawfully.

Fly-Tipping Offences –
🚫 Dumping any kind of waste — even one bag — on unauthorised land (fields, verges, car parks, or alleyways).
⚖️ Covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
🚓 Offenders can face unlimited fines, vehicle seizure, or up to 5 years in prison.
📉 Even if you paid someone else to take your waste, you’re still liable if they fly-tip it illegally.

Key Differences at a Glance –

‍

How to Stay Compliant –
🔍 Always check your waste carrier’s registration:
 👉 https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register
🧾 Keep Waste Transfer Notes for two years.
🔒 Install barriers, bollards, or gates to stop others fly-tipping on your land.