New financial penalties have come into force to crack down
on fly-tipping. The majority of householders already
dispose of their waste responsibly, however from today (7
January) any householder who fails to pass their waste to a
licensed carrier, and whose waste is found fly-tipped,
could face penalties of up to £400.
The government has also issued
guidance to ensure councils use these new powers
proportionately, which makes clear penalties should not be
used as a means of raising money and should not be issued
for minor breaches.
Potential fly-tipping by rogue operators, and the risk of a
penalty, can be simply avoided by using certified waste
carriers. Householders can search for registered waste
carriers quickly and easily on the Environment
Agency’swebsite.
Latest
figures show the government’s crackdown on
fly-tippers is delivering results, with no increase in the
number of incidents for the first time in five years for
the 2017/18 year.
To tackle the potential over-zealous enforcement on
households, in 2015 the government removed criminal
penalties for breaches of household bin requirements in
favour of a new civil penalty system.
Councils were urged to use letters or notices on bins to
remind people of appropriate practices. This measured and
balanced approach, set out in further
guidance, continues to allow councils to focus their
efforts on the small minority who cause genuine harm to the
local environment through irresponsible behaviour.
The guidance for councils on issuing the fixed penalty
notices will continue to ensure they strike the right
balance. This guidance also says that local authorities
should consider whether the householder is a vulnerable
person, for instance due to age related ill-health or a
mental or physical disability.
We have also committed to
clarifying charging arrangements for waste disposal in
relation to small scale DIY construction activities carried
out by ordinary householders, which the government has made
clear should not be charged for at Household Waste
Recycling Centres.
- We support local partners through the National
Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG) which
has published a series of
fly-tipping prevention guides for householders,
businesses and landowners, outlining best practice for
the prevention, reporting, investigation and clearance of
fly-tipping.
- 88% of councils
agreed a new fixed penalty notice would help
tackle fly-tipping.
- We have already given councils the powers to hand out
on-the-spot fines to fly-tippers, and made it easier for
vehicles suspected of being used for fly-tipping to be
stopped, searched and seized.
- Last year councils
issued 69,000 on-the-spot penalties for
fly-tipping offences.
