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Image of Flytipping in Lincolnshire

Flytipping is a blight on our landscape. It is found in all areas of Lincolnshire from peaceful country lanes to urban centres. Every year Local Authorities in Lincolnshire spend many thousands of pounds cleaning up after the minority of people who commit this crime.

The County Council is supporting the District Councils in dealing with this problem by providing a crew and vehicle which visits each district on a rota for a week at a time.

What is flytipping?

Flytipping is the illegal deposit of controlled waste on any land. Controlled waste includes any unwanted material produced by a household or business including:

  • General mixed waste 
  • Garden waste 
  • Construction waste 
  • Soil 
  • Furniture 
  • Liquids

It is important to remember that flytipping is a criminal offence. Anyone, including householders, caught flytipping can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, with the maximum penalty being a £50,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment. Offenders in Lincolnshire have already been prosecuted by Local Authorities for committing offences of this nature.

Depositing waste on the ground outside the gates of a Household Waste Recycling Centre, whether the site is open or closed, is legally defined as flytipping.  People behaving in this manner can expect to have enforcement action taken against them.

What to do when you see any flytipping:

  • If the flytipping is on the public highway or public land - contact your local District Council who will investigate the incident and arrange for the waste to be cleared.  Follow the links for information on how to contact your local District Council. 
  • If the flytipping is outside a Household Waste Recycling Centre or at a Supplementary Service location - contact Environmental Management at Lincolnshire County Council on 01522 782070. 
  • If you believe the flytipping to be hazardous waste or causing pollution - contact the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060. 
  • If you witness anyone flytipping - please record as many details as possible to pass on to the authorities listed above.  Vehicle type, colour and registration number including the date and time of the incident are particularly helpful.

How to prevent your waste being flytipped:

  • In law householders now have a duty of care to ensure that their rubbish is passed on to an authorised person.  If you have hired a tradesman or contractor to undertake work at your home and the waste gets flytipped you could be liable and be fined. 
  • Only use reputable waste disposal companies. 
  • Avoid offers of cheap waste disposal - they may be going to flytip your waste. 
  • If you use tradesman such as builders, plumbers and gardeners check that they are going to dispose of your waste properly. 
  • Ask where the waste will be disposed of - if you are not happy with the answer use another company. 
  • Ask to see their Waste Carrier Registration Certificate - or check with the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 to see if they are registered to carry waste.  It is illegal for tradesmen and businesses to carry someone else's waste without being a registered waste carrier. 
  • If you are a business, in law you have a Duty of Care for your waste and will need to keep copies of Waste Transfer Notes for two years.  For further advice on this contact your local Environment Agency office on 08708 506506.

Further guidance for landowners, businesses and members of the public can be found on the Environment Agency website - please follow the link.

Last Updated: 12 May 2010

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