Fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping or tipping of waste or rubbish onto any land that does not have a licence to accept that waste. It includes everything from general household rubbish and fridges to mattresses, rubble and tyres.

As a resident and a business, you are committing an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if you do not dispose of your waste in the proper way.

The penalty for fly-tipping ranges from a fine up to £50,000 or up to five years in prison depending on what is dumped, how much is dumped and where.

Even if you give your waste to someone else, and they then illegally dump it, you could still be fined or face court action if you haven't taken reasonable steps to prevent that from happening. This is known as Duty of Care.

Find out more about your duty of care and how you can help prevent fly-tipping.

We investigate all reports of fly-tipping where there is a reasonable chance of finding evidence that will lead to a prosecution. We are also responsible for clearing fly-tipping from public land. 

If rubbish is dumped on private land then is the landowner's responsibility to remove it. We will, where appropriate, investigate and prosecute people for fly tipping on private land in partnership with the landowner.

Offenders can be prosecuted for:

• fly-tipping
• knowingly causing or permitting fly-tipping
• failing to take “reasonable steps” to prevent their waste from being fly tipped, i.e. only transferring their waste to an authorised carrier and taking details of the person/business who takes their waste away. You can check if someone holds a waste carrier’s licence here Waste carriers, brokers and dealers (data.gov.uk)
• carrying waste commercially without a licence
• failing to produce waste transport notes upon request
• collecting or dealing in scrap metal without a licence

What to include in your report:

• Images of the waste
• When did you notice it
• Size

If you see someone fly-tipping or discover fly tipped waste

• Do not put yourself at risk or confront the perpetrator(s). If you see fly-tipping in progress keep yourself safe by staying out of the way.
• Do not touch fly-tipped waste it may contain dangerous items such as; syringes, asbestos or other hazardous substances.
• Do not disturb the site as there may be evidence that could help identify the culprits and lead to their prosecution.

Note down as much information as possible and report it to us. We need to know:

• A description of the people fly-tipping (if witnessed)
• Full description of any vehicle involved, especially the registration (if witnessed)
• Images of the waste
• When you noticed the waste
• The size of the fly-tip

Report fly-tipping on public land

If you see rubbish dumped on public land, roads, paths or bridleways then please report it to us. We will investigate and arrange for the waste to be removed.

If the waste blocks the road or presents an immediate hazard to traffic report it to the County Council Highways Department on 01905 765765.

Report fly-tipping on public land

Reported fly-tipping would normally be cleared within 24 hours, Monday to Friday. It may take longer if reported over the weekend or if further investigation is needed.

Fly-tipping on private land

If waste is dumped on private land then it is the landowner's responsibility to remove it, or ask a licensed waste carrier to do it for them, and make sure it is disposed of properly. We can still investigate where the waste has come from.

If the waste presents a health hazard it should be reported to Worcestershire Regulatory Services on 01905 822799 Monday-Friday 8am - 8pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm (answerphone after office hours) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Report fly-tipping private land

Abandoned Shopping Trolley