Refuse - flytipping
Flytipping of waste is a national problem and makes our streets and open spaces a less than pleasant place to be. It is an environmental hazard and costly to remove.
The fly tipping of controlled waste is a serious criminal offence, which carries a fine of up to £20,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court), or an offender can even be sent to prison. It is important to realise that it is also an offence to knowingly allow your waste to be flytipped.
Fly tipping is often associated with dumping waste from vehicles. In this case the person controlling the use of the vehicle can also be prosecuted, which means that it is possible for a prosecution to occur when only the vehicle, not the driver, is identifiable.
If you are employing a tradesman to work on your home, it is your responsibility to make sure that they (or the skip company) are Registered Waste Carriers. They should give you a waste transfer note for your waste which details what the waste is and where and when it is removed from your premises.
- If you discover flytipped waste after the tippers have left, please follow these simple do's and don'ts:
do not touch the waste: flytipped waste can be dangerous - it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances. - visually inspect the waste: try to determine what the waste consists of and how much there is.
take note of its exact location: and also, whether it is in or near water. - do not disturb the site: there may be evidence that could help identify the culprits and lead to their prosecution.
If you see someone flytipping, please make a note of:
- the day, date and time you saw the tipping
- what you saw
- how many people were flytipping and what they looked like
what they were actually doing - any vehicles involved - their make, colour and registration number
- where were you when you saw the flytipping
- what kind of view you had
- how far away you were
- weather and light conditions
- what was tipped
- how much?
- what it looked like
and report this information to Customer Services on 0300 300 8000 and at customer.services@Centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.