Many landowners have been forced to deal with an incident of fly tipping or waste dumping. Keeping land from illegal waste dumping brings its challenges, while local authorities and environmental services face an ongoing battle to prevent individuals and businesses from fly tipping waste. Using fly tipping signage can deliver a strong message to remind people of the consequences of illegally dumping materials. UK Safety Store offer a wide range of fly tipping signs that can be fixed to walls, posts and fences, all made from weatherproof materials that ensure the warning remains clear and visible for years to come.
What is fly tipping?
Fly tipping is when waste is illegally dumped on land or roads that are not licensed for waste. In most cases, fly tipping involves the dumping of household waste, large domestic items (furniture/fridges/sofas etc.), commercial waste (rubble/soil), garden refuse, asbestos waste and tyres. If waste is left beside street bins, on the pavement, on the floor in a communal area or at a recycling centre that does not accept a certain type of waste, this is also classified as fly tipping. It is viewed in a serious light as being anti-social and criminal, affecting people’s quality of life and damaging the local environment by hazerdous waste causing pollution.
Is fly tipping a criminal offence?
Fly tipping is viewed as a criminal offence which can lead to punishments such as:
- Imprisonment for up to 12 months or a fine (of up to £50,000) or both
- Imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine or both
These punishments apply to everyone. It could also lead to the revoking of licences if the person convicted is not regarded as ‘fit and proper’. The owner of any vehicle involved in fly tipping is also liable for conviction. Waste producers have a duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ensure it is disposed of in a proper manner. If their waste is found to have been dumped, even if it has been carried out by someone else, the business (or household) could be charged.
What happens if fly tipping happens on private land?
Private landowners that have been victims of fly tipping are responsible for disposing of it safely and for any associated costs. Should this happen, the landowner should report the incident to the local authority or environmental agency. They may be able help in terms of removing the waste, or can provide guidance on the best methods to use to dispose of it safely, especially if the materials are hazardous. If a contractor is hired to remove the waste, checks should be run to ensure they are a registered waste carrier. The Environmental Agency will be able to help verify their status. Once the waste has been cleared it is a good idea to think about preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of it happening again. Measures may need to be taken to make the land less vulnerable and accessible and if appropriate CCTV warning signage is not in place, installing it in visible areas could ward off potential offenders in the future.
Facts about fly tipping
To better understand how much fly tipping occurs in England, here are some key statistics about the number of incidents and fines issued in recent years.
- In 2020/21 English authorities had to deal with 1.3 million incidents of fly-tipping, a number which is 16% higher than the previous year (there were 960,000 in 2019/20) - 65% of these incidents involved household waste.
- Pavements and roads are the most common places for fly-tipping incidents, accounting for 43% of incidents.
- 34% of fly tipping incidents were categorised as ‘small van loads’, making it the most common form of incident.
- Authorities paid a total of £11.6 million to clear large fly tipping incidents in 2020/21, which accounted for 4% of all incidents and were categorised as ‘tipper lorry load’ size or larger.
- 456,000 enforcement actions were carried out by local councils during the same period - this included 57,600 fixed penalty notices.
- There were 1,313 fines issued by the courts, which totalled £440,000. Many of these enforcement figures were down in the previous year of 2019/20, although the Covid-19 pandemic no doubt played a big part as courts were closed and a significant backlog of cases developed during this period.
Fly tipping signage examples
Examples of Fly Tipping and Waste Dumping Signs that can be used to deter fly tipping include:
No Dumping No Flying Tipping
A No Dumping No Flying Tipping sign has a simple design marked in red and makes a clear statement that no fly tipping or dumping of waste is permitted on the land. Made from aluminium composite with a high quality print finish, it is ideal for long-term use in external conditions due to the in-built weatherproof properties. It can be fixed to a wall, fence or post-mounted, offering flexibility in terms of where it can be positioned and displayed.
No Dumping Or Fly Tipping – CCTV in Operation - £50,000 fine
Similar to the sign mentioned above, although the message is further reinforced by informing people that they are at risk of being fined by authorities for illegally dumping waste if they are caught. A No Dumping Or Fly Tipping – CCTV in Operation - £50,000 fine sign also states that CCTV is in operation, making it more likely that the identity of the waste dumper could be revealed. This sign is made from aluminium composite for outdoor use and the material holds up exceptionally well against ongoing exposure to the elements.
Fly Tippers Beware - CCTV - £50,000 Maximum Penalty
The message is much the same as the aforementioned signs with an additional reminder to potential fly tippers that dumping waste on land is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act (1990). This adds extra context to the warning about a potential fine and custodial sentence, as any prosecution will be delivered via the authorities rather than the private landowner. A Fly Tippers Beware - CCTV - £50,000 Maximum Penalty sign is made from aluminium composite and can also be affixed to fences, walls or posts.
