Flytipping is the illegal depositing of waste on highways/council or private land. It can range from one black refuse bag to huge deposits tipped out of construction vehicle. Flytipping carries a fine of up to £20,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court) or an offender can even be sent to prison.
Reporting flytipping
We have a team of enforcement officers who respond to incidents of flytipping where there is a witness or evidence of who deposited the waste.
Where possible, the enforcement officers will require the following information:
- Time of offence
- Location
- Materials dumped
- Identity of offenders
- Description of vehicle
- Registration Number
- Any other witnesses
If you discover flytipping or witness someone flytipping, you can report it to us online.
Alternatively, you can call our 24 hour hotline on 01443 866566.
Do's and don't's
If you observe flytipping or, as is often the case, you discover flytipping sometime after the tippers have left, you should observe the following do's and don'ts:
- Visually inspect the waste. Stand up-wind of it to avoid any possible fumes. Try to make a note of what it consists of, what quantities and where it's laid, especially whether it is in or anywhere near to water (surface water or groundwater).
- Do not touch the waste unless it is clearly inert. Fly tipped waste can sometimes include toxic chemicals, asbestos, broken glass or clinical waste (for example, contaminated syringes). What initially appears to be builder's rubble or soil may contain hazardous substances.
- Do not disturb the site. There may be evidence, which can lead to tracing the culprits and prosecution.
- Contact us using the details above or call the Environment Agency Wales (Tel: 0800 807060) for immediate advice on what steps to take to secure the safe removal of the waste.
- Write down as many details as possible for use by the police, the council or the appropriate agency. Please record where possible the date and time; who was with you; what you saw; who you saw; what they actually did; any vehicles involved including make, colour and registration; where you were you when you saw the flytipping; a description of what was tipped, how much, and what it looked like.