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Fly-Tipping Skyrockets: 1.26 Million Cases Last Year
25 Feb
Summary
- Cases of fly-tipping jumped nearly 10% to 1.26 million last year.
- Household waste constitutes 62% of all fly-tipping incidents.
- New government guidance aims to help councils seize vehicles used for dumping.
Local authorities in England reported a significant surge in fly-tipping incidents, with cases rising by nearly 10% to 1.26 million in the last year. This marks the highest number recorded since 2018/2019.
Household waste, including everyday rubbish and old furniture, made up 62% of these incidents, totaling 777,000 cases. Pavements and roads were the most common dumping sites, with nearly a third of incidents being the size of a small van load.
Larger cases, equivalent to a tipper lorry load or more, cost councils £19.3 million to clear. The Environment Agency also handled 98 large-scale dumping incidents. Enforcement actions and fixed penalty notices increased, but court fines and their total value decreased.
To combat this issue, the government has issued new guidance for councils on seizing and repurposing vehicles used for fly-tipping, alongside advice for court proceedings. Defra Minister Mary Creagh emphasized a crackdown on "waste cowboys" and the use of technology and increased funding to tackle waste crime.
