Bridgend Council Neglects Fly-Tipping Prosecutions for Nearly a Decade

As of October 2025, Bridgend Council in Wales has not prosecuted anyone for fly-tipping in almost 10 years, despite receiving over 1,500 reports of illegal dumping annually. Campaigners say many residents have "given up" reporting incidents due to the council's lack of action on the issue.

The Coity Wallia Commoners' Association, a local group, has repeatedly tried to push the council to take action, but they claim the authority is "not prepared to take action unless it's on council-owned property." In 2020, the group won a private prosecution over fly-tipping on nearby farmland, but they say they have been "continually frustrated" by further incidents that have gone unpunished since then.

Bridgend Council has shifted its focus towards prevention and education in recent years, citing the limited resources available. However, the council's data shows a slight reduction in fly-tipping incidents, from 1,600 in 2022-23 to 1,510 in 2023-24. Neighboring authorities, such as Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff, have been more active in prosecuting offenders, with 139 and 206 cases, respectively, over the same period.

The lack of prosecutions in Bridgend is a concerning trend, as fly-tipping not only damages the environment but can also pose risks to livestock and the local community. The council's inaction has left residents feeling abandoned, and the commoners' group has had to take matters into their own hands to address the ongoing problem.