We investigate any reports of fly tipping. We remove fly-tipped waste from public land and, where possible, we will prosecute for the offence.
Fly-tipping or 'dumping' are the common terms used to describe the illegal deposit of any waste onto land.
It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act (1990) to fly-tip any material. Offenders can be fined up to £50,000 and / or 5 years imprisonment. Fines are unlimited if the case goes to the County Court.
Fly-tipping is illegal and dangerous. By removing it, we will not only be improving our local environment, but we will be improving the quality of life for many residents and increasing pride in the community.
Once reported, the waste can be removed and the crime can be investigated.
Fly-tipping should be reported to Customer Services on 01264 368000.
Fly-tipped waste on public land will be removed by the Council within 2 to 5 working days.
An Officer will endeavour to contact a complainant within 3 working days following receipt of their complaint or query.
Further information is available at :
Your waste and the law - preventing fly-tipping
The Council is now able to fine householders that have not taken care to ensure that their waste is passed on to an authorised person. This could affect any household that hires a company to take materials away from their house and the materials end up fly-tipped.
Householders not taking reasonable measures to check operators posing as legitimate waste carriers, could face fines up to £5,000.
To ensure that your waste is disposed of correctly, ask your contractor if they are a registered waste carrier and ask for their waste carrier number.
We also recommend that you check :
- that you are using a genuine and reputable company or individual
- where they are proposing to take your waste
- that they can give you a receipt for their service.
If you hire contractors such as builders and allied trades, landscape gardeners, tree fellers and surgeons, house clearers, retail establishments or scrap metal merchants who are removing waste items from your property, these people will normal need a waste carrier registration.
To check whether your contractor is a registered waste carrier, you can contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506 and ask for a Waste Carrier Validation Check. You can also perform this check online using the following link :
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
If your contractor is not registered, you should refuse their services and request that they seek advice from the Environment Agency.
By following these simple guidelines you greatly reduce the likelihood of your waste being found amongst a fly-tip and the Council having to investigate the possibility of pursuing enforcement action against you.
Reporting Fly-Tipping
Dumping waste is illegal and dangerous. It can ruin the appearance of your neighbourhood so don't put up with it - report it!
Fly-tippers are committing a crime and they do not want to be caught. Some fly-tippers may become violent so you should not approach them. Only approach the site when you are sure it is safe to do so.
Some waste is dangerous. Do not touch anything. You should not approach it and certainly not open any black bags or containers.
When you contact the Council, we will require some or all of the following information :
- Your details : name, address and telephone number
- Day, date and time that you saw the fly-tipped waste
- Location of the fly-tipped waste
- Did you see anyone in the act of dumping the waste
- If you did, please give details of the fly-tippers - How many people were there? What did they look like? Did you recognise any of them?
- Was there a vehicle involved? What did it look like? What was it's make, colour and registration number? Were there any distinguishing features on it?
- At what time did you first see the dumping and at what time did you see it stop? Did you see the whole incident from the beginning? If not, from what point did you see it?
- Where were you when you saw the tipping? Could you see clearly?
- What was the weather like?
- What was dumped? What did the waste look like?
- How much waste was there?
- Was anyone else there with you?
You may also report fly-tipping by using the online Fly Tipping Report Form - we would ask you to include as much of the above information as you can.
Prosecuting Fly-Tipping
Following a report of fly-tipping, the Council will investigate the offence and arrange for the removal of any waste on public land.
Following an investigation, the Council may prosecute the person who committed the fly-tipping offence. If you reported the offence, we will be keen to use your evidence in court. It is important to note that event if you do not wish to be a witness, it is still important to report these crimes.
Offenders can be fined up to £50,000 and / or 5 years imprisonment. Fines are unlimited if the case goes to the County Court.
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