Fly-tipping is unfortunately quite a common occurrence along the streets of the UK. Ranging from small pieces of rubbish, and scaling all the way up to people ditching whole sofas by the side of the road, fly-tipping is not only unsightly but can cause damage to the environment and effect local ecosystems. 

Fly-tipping is a well-known problem that faces a large number of people on a daily basis. In this guide we are going to talk you through what it is, why fly-tipping is a bad idea, and how to deal with the problem when someone else leaves rubbish on your property.

What is Fly-Tipping?

Fly-tipping is defined as the illegal dumping of waste on a property that does not have the correct license to deal with it in the most appropriate way possible. Most commonly, fly-tipping refers to household waste; however, that is only because household waste is the most frequent type of rubbish to find by the side of the road. Instead, fly-tipping can refer to any kind of waste – from construction rubble, to bits of old cars, to even chemicals or toxic material. 

Is Fly-Tipping a crime?

Fly-tipping is a criminal act, and is reported to cost the UK over £100m per year in order to clean it up. What is more, fly-tipping is not a victimless crime, but instead costs both the taxpayer and private resident money due to how fly-tipping sits within UK law. 

What are the penalties for fly-tipping?

Due to its criminal nature, there are severe penalties if caught fly-tipping. Although, one of the most common reasons people fly-tip is to avoid having to pay disposal fees, the cost of getting caught fly-tipping is not worth the risk. Fly-tipping is taken seriously in the eyes of the law and penalties can range from spot fines to potentially being prosecuted. Fines for irresponsibly disposing of waste on someone else’s property can be unlimited, depending on the size of the crime.

What if someone dumps rubbish on your land?

Seeing someone dump rubbish on your property is a horrible thing to observe. If you see someone fly-tipping on your property then there are a few things it is important to record if you would like to report them. Core points to note are:

  • The time of the fly-tipping
  • The location of the fly-tipping
  • Any photographs you can take of the perpetrators without engaging with them
  • Descriptions of the people or vehicles involved
  • The vehicle registration plates (if possible)

When dealing with fly-tippers however, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, do not approach the fly-tippers directly as they are engaging in an illegal activity and might react in an unexpected way. Secondly, it is important never to touch the waste yourself. This is especially the case where the contents of the waste are not visible, such as in bags or vats, as it may be unsafe to touch or expose by hand. 

How to get rid of rubbish on your land?

If someone dumps rubbish on your land, there is always the question as to whose responsibility it is to get the rubbish removed. 

Where it is possible to report the act of fly-tipping, the actual responsibility of removing the waste unfortunately comes down to the land owner. Where this can be the local council (especially if it is ditched on public land), due to most waste being tipped on private property, the majority of the time the responsibility falls on the shoulders to the property owner to remove the rubbish from their premises. 

When getting rubbish removed from your property you are going to want to ensure that you hire a specialist who is properly licensed to dispose of waste. Not doing so can potentially result in fines, especially if that waste then ends up getting fly-tipped. 

That being said, the right waste removal company should be able to help you get rid of any fly-tipped rubbish in a way that is both cost effective and convenient.

Skoup Van It Bulky Waste and Fly-Tipping Removal

Here at Skoup we offer a service designed to remove fly-tipped waste from your property. With our Van It service, we can get a van to you to remove a large range of unwanted waste quickly and efficiently, without the need for additional permits. This includes dumped furniture, garden waste, tyres, off cuts of wood or metal, or even waste electrical equipment. 

No matter your reason for wanting waste collected, whether you are just having a clear out or whether you have fallen victim to fly-tippers, we offer a seven days a week service designed to help you get rid of any waste you need. 

At Skoup we offer a competitive service, focused around your convenience. You can discover more, including more about the waste we are licensed to be able to dispose of, by visiting our Van It page. Alternatively, you can call us today on 0330 535 535.