Are you accidentally fly tipping?

Fly-tipping is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land that does not have a licence to accept it. It is unsightly, costs taxpayers money to clear up, and can release toxic materials into the natural environment. Many people would never knowingly fly tip, but numerous incidents occur because unregistered waste carriers dispose of rubbish irresponsibly.

Householders can also be fined up to £600 if their waste is fly tipped by someone else, so it’s important to ensure that anyone removing your waste is a registered waste carrier. 

Anyone you are paying to collect waste on your behalf needs a waste carriers licence and should provide evidence of disposal at a properly licenced site. If you give waste to a third party waste carrier and they fly tip, you are liable for a fine and prosecution.

What should you do to protect yourself?

Suspect all waste carriers. Don’t let them take your rubbish until they provide proof of registration. Note their vehicle’s registration plate.

Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency’s website.

Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away.

Ask how your rubbish will be disposed of – seek evidence of this.

Paperwork must be obtained: a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details.

How to check a waste carrier:

• Visit the Environment Agency register here.
• Or call 0800 80 70 60 (24 hour service)
• You can also check the public registers online here to search for environmental permits and licences, exemptions, waste carriers, brokers and dealers, and scrap metal dealers
• Report suspicious operators or waste sites to Crimestoppers

There are other ways that some of us fly tip without meaning to. Leaving a charity shop donation by their door because they aren’t open is considered fly tipping, as is leaving recycling next to a bring bank because it is full.

What should I do with my waste instead?

• Ask the Waste Wizard– Pop in your postcode and the item you are trying to rehome and it will tell you what your best local options are.
• Take it to one of our 5 Household Recycling Centre– Find out what you can take, where your nearest site is and how to book here.
• Use your kerbside collection for smaller household items- Visit your district council’s website for full details on which bins to use.
• Book a bulky waste collection for big items with your district council- Find out more here.
• Donate any unwanted items to a local reuse organisation such as a charity shop or sell online on a peer to peer group but check they are accepting donations before just leaving items there.

Visit our website for more information on how to prevent fly tipping: What is fly tipping? | Gloucestershire Recycles