Householders could face a £600 fine for fly-tipping, even if they’ve adhered to the rules and not dumped any rubbish themselves. Fly-tipping, the unlawful disposal of rubbish on unlicensed land, is a recurring problem in the UK, with over a million instances reported in England last year alone.
Despite strict laws against fly-tipping, householders and landowners might find themselves liable for waste dumped by others due to a technicality. As BBC journalist Louise Minchin disclosed the surprising fact about fly-tipping on BBC’s Morning Live, host Holly Hamilton was taken aback: “You can still be responsible even if it’s not you who dumped the waste.”
Louise confirmed: “You don’t have to be the one doing the fly-tipping. Absolutely right, there are two different ways actually. You can be held responsible if you’re a landowner and something’s been dumped on private land, also as a householder as well.”
She added: “If you’re a landowner and somebody fly-tips on your land, both local authorities and environmental agencies have the legal power to require you to remove that waste. This applies across the UK and failing to clear that waste could see you liable.”
Louise continued: “If you’re a householder you could be fined £600 for waste you’ve given to someone who’s an unlicensed carrier and ends up being fly-tipped. If you are a householder, really be careful about who you trust with your waste. Always do your research.”
She advised the public to be “really suspicious” if offered waste disposal services and emphasised the importance of receiving proper documentation and a receipt. She also informed that the Gov.uk website can be utilised to confirm whether someone is a registered waste carrier, reports the Express.
Louise said: “Fly-tipping is illegal and taken seriously by authorities. Punishments vary across the UK. They can include fixed penalty notices, unlimited fines, vehicle seizure and up to five years in prison depending on the severity of the offence.”
The problem was highlighted after an update on a case from earlier in the year revealed a huge waste heap that had obstructed access to properties and farms in Staffordshire.
In court last Tuesday, Darren Sheen faced allegations connected to the fly-tipping of a colossal 27-tonne mound of rubbish in Lichfield, which resulted in nearly £10,000 in clearance costs for the council. With the case still ongoing and no judgement delivered yet, and at the latest hearing, no plea has been recorded. Louise added: “It’s a reminder that fly-tipping is illegal and is taken seriously by authorities.”
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