Penalties for fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence 

Fly-tipping (illegal dumping of waste) is a serious crime under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. 

• You can be fined up to £50,000 in a magistrates’ court  
• Fines are unlimited in higher courts  
• You could face up to 5 years in prison  

Wokingham Borough Council and the Environment Agency investigate fly-tipping on public land, and we will take action against those responsible. 

Reporting and Enforcement 

We investigate reports of fly-tipping and work to identify and prosecute offenders, including tracing vehicles involved. 

If your waste is fly-tipped 

You are responsible for your waste, even after it leaves your property. 

• You could receive a £600 fixed penalty fine if your waste is fly-tipped and traced back to you  
• You may be prosecuted if you fail to meet your legal duty  
• On conviction, fines can reach £50,000 or more 

Your responsibility 

All householders, businesses, and landowners must ensure their waste is disposed of properly. This includes waste removed by any trader or contractor on your behalf. If you're having work done in your home, office or garden you should budget for responsible waste disposal. 

If you hire someone (e.g. a builder, gardener, or contractor): 

• Make sure they are a registered waste carrier  
• Ask where your waste will be taken  
• Keep proof (such as a receipt or waste transfer note)  

If your waste is fly-tipped, you could still be held responsible if you didn’t check properly. 

Other fly-tipping offences 

You can also be prosecuted if you: 

• Allow flytipping on land you control  
• Give your waste to someone without checking they are authorised  
• Fail to check where your waste will end up  

Penalties are the same as for committing the offence yourself. 

Vehicles and fly-tipping 

Fly-tipping often involves vehicles. 

• The driver and vehicle owner can both be prosecuted  
• Action can be taken even if only the vehicle is identified  
• Vehicles used in flytipping can be seized, impounded, or destroyed 

Business waste checks 

Our enforcement officers carry out inspections to check commercial waste arrangements.