What is fly-tipping?
Fly-tipping is defined as the ‘illegal deposit of any waste onto land that does not have a licence to accept it’ and it is a criminal offence under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Why is it illegal?
Fly-tipping not only pollutes land and waterways, but it can be dangerous to human health, wildlife and costs the council tax payer significant amounts of money to clear away. Fly-tipping also spoils our towns and countryside with unsightly, and in some cases, dangerous waste.
What are the penalties?
The harshness of the penalty for fly-tipping depends on the seriousness of the offence. Its impact on the environment and the cost of cleaning and dealing with any resulting pollution. Offenders can be given a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice for small-scale fly-tipping and in serious cases, prosecution in court can end in either a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment.
What is the difference between fly-tipping and littering?
It is important to not confuse fly-tipping with littering. Interestingly, litter is not specifically defined in law. However, fly-tipping includes the dumping of larger items that have a much greater impact to the environment and community, whereas littering is normally smaller items that are often associated with smoking, eating or drinking.
What are we doing to fight against fly-tipping waste?
As a house clearance company, we are committed to ensuring that the contents of houses are collected and disposed of in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. We have developed and mastered the most sustainable practices and pride ourselves in recycling as much waste as possible, including donating items to various charities, and using our upper tier Waste Carriers’ Licence to recycle the rest.
What can you do if you discover fly tipping waste?
Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence for which you can be prosecuted, so if you discover fly-tipping waste, you can report it online to your local council here. If you witness fly-tipping, be careful as fly-tippers are doing something illegal and are therefore unlikely to welcome people recording them.
Together we can help to ensure that companies and individuals are complying with the law to dispose of waste, on all scales. If you’re currently looking to hire a reliable and sustainable clearance company, we’d love to hear from you! Call us today on 01603 531775.