Which English council recorded the most fly-tipping incidents with no prosecutions?

The London borough of Hounslow recorded the sixth most incidents nationwide but issued no convictions or fixed penalty notices.

Why are councils failing to prosecute fly-tippers in England?

Lack of funding, no statutory duty to investigate, and enforcement costs often exceeding penalties contribute to councils deprioritizing fly-tipping.

How much does it cost to clean up large fly-tipping sites in the UK?

Cleaning up major fly-tip sites can cost tens or even hundreds of millions of pounds, with one site in Kent estimated at over £15 million.

Home / Environment / England's councils fail to prosecute fly-tippers

England's councils fail to prosecute fly-tippers

26 Dec, 2025

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Summary

41 councils prosecuted no fly-tippers last year.
Fly-tipping rates reached a 14-year high recently.
Criminal gangs exploit tax avoidance for massive profits.

England's councils fail to prosecute fly-tippers

A significant number of local authorities in England are failing to tackle the escalating issue of fly-tipping. Reports reveal that 41 councils recorded over 110,400 fly-tipping incidents last year without initiating a single criminal prosecution or issuing a fixed penalty notice. This widespread inaction coincides with fly-tipping rates reaching a 14-year peak, a 6% increase from the previous year.

Experts attribute this neglect to funding pressures and a lack of statutory duty for councils to investigate fly-tipping, making it a low priority. Criminal gangs are exploiting this lax enforcement, often driven by the desire to avoid landfill tax, which has risen substantially to £126 per tonne. These operations can generate substantial profits, with gangs reportedly earning up to £2,500 per lorry load of waste.

Lawmakers and environmentalists are calling for an overhaul of the investigation and enforcement processes. Concerns have been raised about the Environment Agency's capacity to handle large-scale incidents, with some sites costing millions to clean up, ultimately borne by taxpayers. The situation has been described as an 'environmental catastrophe' in several instances, highlighting the urgent need for more robust action against waste criminals.