Let's SCRAP fly tipping

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of items.

If your waste is fly tipped, by you or by someone else on your behalf, you could face up to a £1000 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine.

Leaving items:

beside street bins and recycling banks
on the floor of communal bin areas
outside closed recycling centres and charity shops

are all fly tipping.

How you can prevent fly tipping

Everyone has a legal 'duty of care' to ensure your household or business waste is disposed of correctly.

You can be prosecuted even if your waste is fly tipped by someone else on your behalf.

If it's your waste, it's your responsibility.

Always use a registered waste carrier to collect your rubbish.

Find a registered waste carrier in your area on the Environment Agency's website.

Suspect all waste carriers. Don't let them take your rubbish until they provide proof of registration. Note their vehicle's registration plate.

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

Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away.

Ask how your rubbish will be disposed of - seek evidence of this.

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.

What else you can do with your household waste

Use your kerbside bin collection

Visit your district or borough council’s website to find out about your local bin collections and what you can put in your bins.

Use neighbourhood recycling banks or household waste recycling centres

Find out when your nearest recycling centre is open, what you can take there and how to get a permit to bring a van or trailer.

Use your local council’s bulky waste collection service

Your district or borough council can collect bulky items directly from your house – visit their website for details.

Sell or donate your unwanted items

Use social media groups or websites like eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle. Only donate items to charity shops when they're open.

Is your business disposing of its waste correctly?

Every business that produces waste in the UK has a legal ‘duty of care’ to:

manage it properly until it's recycled or disposed of
always use a registered waste carrier or register to carry your own waste
keep the correct paperwork for at least two years.

A lack of understanding will not protect you in court.

Get help complying with the law:

Let's SCRAP fly tipping

Let's SCRAP fly tipping

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