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Last revised: 8 October 2008

Fly Tipping - oil drums

Please follow this link to fill out a Fly Tipping report form

Fly-tipping is 'the illegal deposit of any waste onto land i.e. waste dumped or tipped on a site with no licence to accept waste'.

Fly-tipped waste generally ranges from one black sack to large deposits of construction material that are dumped illegally on land instead of being disposed of properly at a landfill site tip, often referred to as 'dumping'.

Fly-tipping is illegal. UK waste comes under strict controls that impose a duty to ensure that waste is disposed of properly. Only holders of a Waste Management Licence can recover, transport, deposit or dispose of waste. Waste can be deposited only at officially authorised sites. Anyone fly-tipping waste is committing a serious offence.

Uncontrolled waste disposal can be hazardous to the public, especially when the waste consists of drums of toxic material, asbestos sheeting or syringes. There can be damage to watercourses and underlying soil quality from the dumped waste. Fly-tipping looks unsightly and this can harm investment into an area. Cleaning up fly-tipping costs taxpayers' money.

In some cases it results from producers of waste being ignorant of their responsibilities for the waste they produce. For example, householders or business often escape paying authorised waste companies to collect in favour of dumping their waste in a lay-by or by-way.

Fly-tipping is enforced under the following legislation:-

Environmental Protection Act (1990) (External link)

Anti-social Behaviour Act (2003) (External link)

Clean Neighbourhoods & Environmental Act (2005) (External link)

Fly-tipping is now an arrestable offence which can incur the following punishments:-

  • Fly-tipping fines up to £50,000 and/or imprisonment. Fines are unlimited if the case goes to the Crown Court or up to 2 years imprisonment and up to 5 years if hazardous waste is dumped.

  • It is also an offence to permit or authorise fly-tipping on land where a Waste Management Licence is not held.

  • Where fly-tipping involves the use of a vehicle, the driver can be prosecuted, as can the owner of the vehicle.

  • Powers to seize vehicles used for fly-tipping.

  • £5,000 fine for householders or businesses who fail to transfer their waste to an authorised waste contractor or local authority.

  • Fixed Penalty Notices (£300) for businesses who can not produce valid waste transfer notes (legal documents proving authorised waste management).

If you see anybody fly-tipping, report it to Kennet District Council, but never approach the person as they may become violent. Never touch any of the waste or open containers as they may contain hazardous material.

To report a fly-tipping incident please contact Kennet District Council after making note of the following information, the date, time and place of the occurrence. What the waste looks like and how much of it there is. A description of any vehicles involved along with their vehicle's registration number. This information can be reported on line by following the link at the top of the page.

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