Defra unveils plans to tackle fly-tipping

Defra has announced tougher rules to crack down on fly-tipping incidents that cost the UK economy almost £1bn/year.

According to the latest Defra figures, waste crime cost the English economy almost £924m in 2019, while local authorities faced 1.13m fly-tipping incidents in the year to March 2021.

Now, in a dual approach, the department has proposed measures to control waste crime and support waste-disposal businesses to handle rubbish correctly.

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Included in the measures are increased background checks for firms that move or trade waste and greater powers for regulators to tackle rogue operators.

Waste is often handled by intermediaries who conceal their identities to commit serious and organised waste crime, a Defra spokesperson said.

Extra checks will ensure waste is managed by authorised persons and in a safer manner, making it harder for unregistered operators to find work, Defra said.

Proposed measures

• New powers to force fly-tippers to clear up
• Extra background checks on people handling waste
• Digital tracking
• Increased record-keeping
• Switch to permit-based system

Mandatory digital waste tracking has been put forward as part of an overhaul of the ageing paper-based record-keeping process.

In future, companies will be required to record information from the point waste is produced to the stage it is disposed of, recycled and reused.

This will enable regulators to better detect illegal activity and tackle waste crime, including fly-tipping, illegal waste sites and illegal waste exports.

Extra powers

In addition to the record-keeping changes, environmental officers will be handed extra powers that will allow them to force rogue operators to clean up waste.

And further controls could see a switch from a register of waste handlers to a permit-based system, requiring companies to demonstrate competence.

Environment minister Jo Churchill said licensing system reforms and digital tracking would make it easier for householders to check waste was being disposed of legally.

“Together, these reforms will stop criminals abusing the waste system and make it easier to prosecute offenders successfully.”

Serial fly-tippers convicted

Two serial fly-tippers who dumped piles of rubbish in the Yorkshire countryside have been ordered to pay a total of £2,500 in costs and fines.

Ben Tiller, 37, of Richmond, offered waste collection services on a Facebook page. He and accomplice David Argyle, 37, from Thirsk, responded to requests by removing waste in their pickup truck.

Ben Tiller © North Yorkshire Police

But Harrogate Magistrates Court heard that the collected waste was not taken to a regulated disposal site. Instead, the two men dumped refuse in countryside gateways and verges across the county.  

The men were finally caught after paper waste at one site revealed the address of one of the men’s customers. From there the trail led back to Mr Tiller.

Both men were convicted in court, with Mr Tiller ordered to pay an £800 fine and £700 in costs. Mr Argle was fined £300 with £700 costs.