Fly-tipping is illegal and if you get caught doing it, you can expect a fine of up to £50,000, along with a possible prison sentence.
Illegally dumped waste costs us money to clear and can have an effect on service charges, so it’s really important that you know how to get rid of bulkier items in an appropriate way.
What is fly-tipping?
Fly-tipping is when you get rid of household, industrial and any other ‘controlled’ waste in public spaces. Controlled waste refers to items such as fridges, washing machines, mattresses, and bed frames. Waste can be classed as anything solid or liquid.
Fly-tipping isn’t the same as littering. Littering is classed as the dumping of wrappers, boxes, bottles, cigarette butts, small bits of waste and any other things related to eating and drinking. Although littering isn’t as serious as fly-tipping, you could still get fined if you’re caught.
Fly tipping can attract pests and vermin, so it’s important that you report it as soon as possible. If you find fly-tipping on our land, then it’s our responsibility to clear it. If it’s not our land, you’ll need to contact the council.
How we help
- We work with your local council to make sure your bins are collected regularly
- We encourage you to recycle as much as possible, so you have more space in your bins for general waste
- We make sure that outdoor areas are well lit and streetlights are in working order, to prevent fly-tipping
What you can do
- You can donate any large pieces of furniture or electrical items to charities
- If there are any things you can’t donate, take good use of free, local recycling centres. You can find your local recycling centre by using this handy tool
- You can call your local council and see if they can collect any large and bulky items – there’ll be a small charge for this
- You can often exchange old items with retailers when buying a replacement/new item – be sure to check this with the retailer before you make a purchase
- Try advertising them on a local community group or noticeboard
We encourage everyone to report incidents of fly-tipping by calling our Hub on 0345 60 20 540 or dropping us a private message on Facebook or X. This way we can clear up dumped waste on our premises and report incidents to the police to help catch the perpetrators.
For more information, you can visit our web page.
