Fly-tippers and litter louts will soon face higher fines in a new Government crackdown.
New legislation means the maximum on-the-spot penalty for dumping waste will rise from £1,000 to £5,000, a 400% increase
Meanwhile, the top fine for street littering will climb from £500 to £750, which is a 50% rise.
The crackdown follows local authorities recording 1.26 million incidents last year, equating to someone dumping rubbish illegally every 25 seconds.
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Fly-tipping fines raised to £5,000 in new Government rules
Emma Reynolds, Environment Secretary, said: “Fly-tipping and littering is a disgrace that blights local communities.
“Under this Government, criminals who break the rules will face heftier fines to clean up the mess they make.
“We are sending a clear message to those who dump their rubbish – we are coming after you and you will pay the price.”
Fly-tipping is described as the “illegal dumping of household, commercial or industrial waste on a small scale”.
It can be several bin bags of rubbish, pieces of furniture, small commercial waste loads and garden waste.
In some cases, small amounts of hazardous waste, such as a drum of industrial waste or a sheet of asbestos, are also dumped.
The Government announced that the higher fines will take effect this summer.
Councils will keep full discretion over the level of fines issued, allowing for penalties to be scaled based on the severity of the offence.
The Government said new guidance has also been issued to help local authorities identify and seize vehicles involved in fly-tipping.
How to report fly-tipping
To report fly-tipping in England, Scotland or Wales, contact the environmental health team at your local council.
However, if someone has illegally dumped waste on your land, it is up to you to get rid of it.
“You’ll need to decide how to deal with the waste and pay for someone to dispose of it properly,” the government website explains.
“You could be fined up to £200 if you do not dispose of the waste properly.
“If there’s a risk to the environment or human health, call the Environment Agency incident hotline.”
Have you ever had to report a case of fly-tipping? Let us know in the comments.
