8 Silly Ways to Get Caught Fly-Tipping & Fined
In recent years, the government has ramped up its efforts to combat fly-tipping, significantly changing fly-tipping laws by increasing the fines for those caught in the act. Given that courts previously could only impose fines up to £400, these new measures highlight the seriousness of the issue and aim to deter potential offenders.
Is fly-tipping illegal?
Yes, fly-tipping is a police matter and a criminal offence under the Environmental Act 1990. You can report active fly-tipping to the police so they can hopefully catch the offenders in the act, whereas most council websites have a form you can fill in or a telephone number to report fly-tipping.
What Is the Fine for Fly-Tipping?
Since 2023, the maximum fines for fly-tipping have risen to £1000, while failing to adhere to your household waste duty of care can result in a £600 penalty. A fine for fly-tipping first offence is a fixed penalty fine, so there’s no easy ride for first-time offenders.
A fly-tipping penalties increase was long overdue as people seemed more willing to take risks when fly-tipping, often getting caught in the most ridiculous ways. Here are eight fly-tipping examples of the silliest ways people have been caught…
1. Sat-Nav Leads The Way Back Home
Here’s a gem from the fly-tipping hall of fame: a culprit who tossed out his sat-nav along with his rubbish. Picture this: Gabby Lee, thinking he was getting away with dumping building waste in a field near Odiham, inadvertently left a trail right back to his front door.
The sat-nav, discarded among the debris – which also included asbestos – dutifully guided Hart District Council officers straight to his home. Result? A whopping £3,800 fine. It’s like having your personal GPS for instant justice – “Take the next left and deliver your penalty!”
2. Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane?
Nope, it's just a military helicopter catching a fly-tipper red-handed!
In Melksham near Bath, Corey Ross Carr thought he could get away with illegally dumping waste and even setting a mattress on fire. Unluckily for him, a passing Ministry of Defence helicopter captured the whole thing on camera.
Carr, who falsely advertised his services as fully licensed on Facebook, not only faced a £1,295 fine but also had his waste carrier’s licence revoked. Getting busted from the sky – talk about an eagle-eyed view of justice!
3. Leaving Evidence in the Waste
In another classic case of fly-tipping gone wrong, three students from Filton, Bristol ended up paying the price for their careless disposal of household waste. Kieran Gibbons, Anthony Matthews, and Joseph Levy thought they could get away with dumping their rubbish on Station Road, Filton. However, they left correspondence with their names and address among the black bags of waste, leading authorities straight to them.
The students were handed a 12-month conditional discharge and fined £332. It’s a stark reminder that leaving evidence in your trash is a sure-fire way to get caught.
4. Digital Detectives: Smile for the Camera
If you thought removing any evidence of your residence would ensure you are not going to be caught, then you would be dead wrong as these offenders found out. With modern technology, being a fly-tipper is riskier than ever.
Surveillance from council CCTV, doorbell cameras, and vigilant citizens capturing video evidence makes it incredibly hard to get away with illegal dumping. Here are some tales where technology played the hero.
Caught in the Act by Council CCTV
More and more councils are deploying CCTV cameras to catch fly-tippers in the act. In Hull, strategically placed cameras have proven effective in recording illegal dumping activities, making it easier to identify and prosecute offenders. Hull City Council even has a dedicated webpage where the public can view and report fly-tipping offences caught on camera.
Similarly, Southampton has introduced mobile solar-powered CCTV units that have significantly reduced fly-tipping in hotspot areas. These cameras can be easily relocated as needed and have already led to the issuance of numerous £400 Fixed Penalty Notices.
Doorbell Cameras Clearing Up the Trash
Fly-tippers beware: doorbell cameras are on the lookout! In Thornbury, Stephen Mitchell was caught on a local resident’s doorbell camera, dumping a sofa from a rental van into a lay-by in Bristol. The footage, showing the van arriving and departing, provided clear evidence against him. Mitchell was eventually fined a total of £2,599 by Bristol Magistrates Court.
This case highlights how technology in the hands of vigilant citizens can play a crucial role in combating illegal dumping and holding offenders accountable.
Members of The Public Recording Offenders
Our next case is a prime example of community vigilance. If you have been left asking yourself “How can I stop fly-tipping?”, a grandmother from Liverpool caught a group of fly-tippers in the act shamelessly dumping waste in broad daylight!
Armed with her mobile phone, she filmed five men dumping "at least 12 mattresses" and pieces of wood from a white van onto a field. The footage provided clear evidence of the illegal activity and highlights the role citizens can play in keeping their communities clean – but we would only advise to record offenders if you feel you are safe in case of confrontation!
5. Returning To the Scene of The Crime
Leigh Jenkinson of Andover took fly-tipping to a new level of audacity by returning to the same spot multiple times. Captured on camera on two occasions in June and July 2023, he was seen dumping large sacks of garden waste on a rural track. The footage led authorities to his doorstep, resulting in a fine of £1,060, including costs and a victim surcharge.
6. Caught in the Act Red-Handed
In London, a fly-tipper was handed a hefty penalty after being caught in the act of fly-tipping by council environmental services officers. A worker from Seoul Garden restaurant on Brick Lane was spotted dumping two black sacks of waste in a local fly-tipping hotspot.
Despite being issued a £400 fixed penalty notice – the maximum allowed under law – the fly-tipping fine went unpaid, leading to prosecution. Thames Magistrates Court then ordered the restaurant to pay over £3,000, including costs. This incident underscores the importance of proper waste disposal and the consequences of neglecting it.
7. Acting as a Waste Carrier Without a Licence
In Bristol, Shane Parker was caught fly-tipping after claiming to be a licensed waste carrier. He charged a homeowner £450 to remove renovation waste, which he then dumped illegally in Hanham. The investigation by South Gloucestershire Council revealed Parker’s deception, as he failed to produce a Registered Waste Carrier’s Licence.
Parker was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, including 80 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge. This case highlights the importance of verifying waste carrier credentials to avoid legal repercussions.
Thankfully, the homeowner was able to provide evidence of Shane Parker handling the waste and providing details that allowed the investigation team to find him. Often this is not the case and people are left out of pocket twice as they:
- Pay a criminal to remove the waste, and then
- Pay a fine and any costs to the local authorities.
Which leads us to our final silly way of being caught fly-tipping and facing a fine…
8. Failing To Comply with Household Waste Duty of Care
This was the case for several residents in Swindon who used a rogue waste collector. The waste was later found fly-tipped, and without proper documentation proving they had verified the carrier’s credentials, these residents were held accountable and fined. This serves as a crucial reminder to always use licensed waste carriers.
What is Household Waste Duty of Care?
The Household Waste Duty of Care is a legal obligation for homeowners to ensure their waste is disposed of correctly and responsibly. This means using licensed waste carriers and verifying their credentials to prevent illegal fly-tipping.
If waste is traced back to a household and it’s found that due diligence was not performed in selecting a legitimate carrier, the homeowner can face significant fines of up to £600, and additional costs for waste clean-up and victim surcharges. This duty aims to reduce environmental damage and ensure waste is managed in a lawful manner.
The harsh reality is that we, the creators of waste at our homes, are responsible for our waste being disposed of correctly. If you can’t prove that you checked the credentials of a waste carrier – such as those advertising cheap waste removal in local Facebook groups – you can and will be fined if the court traces the rubbish back to you.
Don’t Get Fined – Go Green with HIPPO!
The stories above clearly show that fly-tipping and improper waste disposal can lead to hefty fines and legal trouble. To avoid these issues, use HIPPO for all your waste removal needs. HIPPO provides a hassle-free, professional service, ensuring your rubbish is disposed of responsibly and legally. By choosing HIPPO, you not only contribute to a cleaner environment but also protect yourself from potential fines and legal consequences. Don't risk it – let the professionals handle your waste!