Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of rubbish or bulky items on land where dumping isn't allowed. It can be dangerous to human and animal health. Fly-tipping pollutes land and waterways. It's expensive to clear away fly-tipped rubbish. If you see someone fly-tipping, you should report it to the local council.
COVID-19 update
Respect your essential waste workers and your natural environment by not fly-tipping.
Do not leave your rubbish:
- outside closed recycling centres
- outside charity shops
- on the floor of communal bin areas
- beside street bins and recycling banks
- anywhere that isn’t a registered waste facility or container
Council waste and recycling centres
Some Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are now operating with a restricted service. Check for the latest Covid-19 rules before visiting your local HWRC.
You can check online or with your local council for guidance (and booking) before visiting any site.
What you can do about fly-tipped waste
If you see fly-tipped waste, don't:
- touch the waste because there might be contaminated waste, syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances
- disturb the site in case there's evidence that could identify the fly-tippers and lead to their prosecution
You should:
- try to work out what the waste is and how much there is
- note the day, date and time you saw the tipping
- note the waste's exact location and whether it is in or near water
- take a photograph and give this to the local council
If you see someone fly-tipping
If you're nearby when someone is fly-tipping, you should note:
- how many people are involved and what they look like
- what they tipped - how much and what it looks like
- information about the vehicles they use including make, colour and registration number
Waste crime
Sometimes people bring waste in a vehicle and dump this on land or by the road. It is a criminal offence to dump waste illegally. You could be fined or get a prison sentence for waste crime. It is also an offence to allow fly-tipping to take place.
Investigating waste crime
The police and authorised officers of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs can stop, search and seize vehicles used or suspected of being used for illegal waste activities, including fly-tipping.
Report waste crime
Dumping or burning waste where it's not allowed, or allowing others to dispose of waste on your land, is a criminal offence. To read more about waste crime and how you can report it, go to: