Councils net power to issue on-the-spot fines for small-scale fly-tipping

Council enforcement officers will from this month be able to issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices of up to £400 on individuals who carry out small-scale fly-tipping.

The new powers have been welcomed by the Local Government Association as “a big step in the right direction”.

According to government statistics, the cost of clearing up fly-tipping reached nearly £50m in England alone for 2014/15, with almost 900,000 incidents.

Local authorities carried out nearly 515,000 enforcement actions at an estimated cost of £17.6m over the 12 months.

The range of fly-tipping FPN fines can be found here. The LGA insisted that councils used their enforcement powers proportionately and took a range of different approaches to raise awareness and change culture.

LGA Environment spokesman Cllr Martin Tett said: “At a time when councils face difficult choices about services in the light of reducing budgets, they are having to spend a vast amount each year on tackling litter and fly-tipping. This is money that would be better spent on vital services such as filling potholes and caring for the elderly. Litter and fly-tipping is environmental vandalism – it’s unpleasant, unnecessary and unacceptable.

“The Government has responded to our call for councils to be able to apply Fixed Penalty Notices for small scale fly-tipping – and this is a big step in the right direction. Councils also need a faster and more effective legal system which means fly-tippers are given hard-hitting fines for more serious offences. Local authorities should also be able to recoup all prosecution costs, rather than be left out of pocket.”

Cllr Tett added: “Not only does fly-tipping create an eyesore for residents, it is also a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.

“There are a number of additional changes that would help tackle littering and fly-tipping, including sharing more of the responsibility with product producers – such as mattress and chewing gum manufacturers - to contribute to the costs of clear up.”