Flytipping
If
you have any evidence of anyone or any
organisation carrying out flytipping please contact the
Environment Agency on 0800 807060. To ask for the removal of any
flytipping please email
Streetscene, telephone
01653 600666, or by using the form link below.
What if I see someone flytipping?
The following information has been taken from the Environment
Agency's Flytipping Guidance:
If you observe someone flytipping or, more often, discover
flytipping after the tippers have left, you should use the
following guidance.
- Visually inspect the waste. Stand up-wind of it to avoid
any possible fumes. Try to make a note of what it consists
of, what quantities and where it is laid, especially whether it is
in or anywhere near to water (surface water or groundwater).
- Do not touch the waste unless it is clearly inert.
Flytipped waste can sometimes include toxic chemicals, asbestos,
broken glass or clinical waste (e.g. contaminated syringes).
What initially appears to be builders rubble or soil may contain
hazardous substances.
- Do not disturb the site. There may be evidence which can
lead to tracing the culprits and prosecution.
- Email Streetscene or
telephone 01653 600666 or call the Environment Agency (0800 807060)
for immediate advice on what steps to take to secure the safe
removal of the waste.
Write down as many details as possible for use by the police,
the council or the appropriate agency. Please record the
following details:
- The day, date and time that you saw the flytipping (including
when the tipping stopped)
- Who was with you
- What you saw - How many people did you see? Did you
recognise any of them? What did they actually do? Was
there a vehicle involved? If so, what was the make, colour
and registration number? Were there any distinguishing
features on the vehicle?
- Where were you when you saw the flytipping - What kind of view
did you have? How far away were you? What was the
weather like, was it dark or not?
- A description of what was tipped - How much was tipped?
What did it look like?
If you see someone flytipping it is important to write down as
many details as possible, as you may be asked to make a
statement. It is important that you do not throw these details
away as you may need to refer to them later on.
Flytipping and the Law
Flytipping is illegal and offenders may be prosecuted for a
serious offence. There are several pieces of legislation
relating to fly-tipping, the main legislation in England, Wales and
Scotland being the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990)
Sections 33, 34 and 59.
Fines may be up to £50,000 and/or six months
imprisonment. Fines are unlimited if the case goes to the
Crown Court and offenders could face up to two years' imprisonment,
or up to five years if the waste is classed
as hazardous.
It is also an offence to allow waste to be dumped on land
which is not covered by a Waste Management Licence. If a
vehicle is used for flytipping both the driver and the
owner may be prosecuted and the vehicle may be seized by the
police.