Flytipping What is flytipping?
'Flytipped' waste generally consists of large items of rubbish that are dumped illegally instead of being disposed of properly at a landfill site or tip. The most common types of flytipped waste are
- Household waste
- Large domestic items such as fridges and mattresses
- Garden waste
- Commercial waste such as builders rubble, tyres and clinical waste
Why is flytipping a problem?
60,000 tonnes of waste was dumped in England and Wales in 2003. The Environment Agency estimates that there are 50,000 incidents of fly-tipping each year, costing taxpayers between £100 - 150 million to remove. Flytipping is
- Illegal - and clearing it up costs taxpayers' money.
- Unsightly - flytipping is a sign of a neglected neighbourhood and is associated with increased levels of crime and the fear of crime. It also discourages investment and new businesses from moving into the area.
- Unsafe - dumped waste can consist of dangerous items such as syringes, asbestos and toxic waste. It can also attract rats, flies and other disease-carrying pests.
 What can we all do to prevent flytipping?
Report it!
Don't put up with dumped rubbish - report it!  You can report flytipping online here or call the 24 hour hotline on 020 7525 2000.
If the rubbish has been dumped on public or council owned land we'll make sure the rubbish is removed and the crime is investigated by our enforcement officers. We're not able to remove rubbish from private land, but may be able to provide help dealing with landlords who do not clear up rubbish on their land.
Reporting people who flytip
Flytippers are doing something illegal, they don't want to get caught.
- Do not approach them
- Do not go near the rubbish until you are sure it is safe
- Do not touch anything
If you spot someone flytipping, make a note of the following and contact us with details of
- The date, time and place where it happened
- What the waste looks like and how much there is
- A description of any vehicles involved and vehicle registration numbers if possible
We may try to prosecute the flytippers if we have enough evidence. But you can report the crime anonymously using the reporting form and telephone number above.
Dispose of your waste properly
Southwark residents who have extra household rubbish or bulky waste to get rid of should contact us and we'll take it away for free! Here you can find out how to get your bulky waste collected.
Residents with extra garden or green waste can recycle it. More information about green waste is available here.
Recycle your waste - you can cut down on the amount of waste by recycling it. Lots of materials like old furniture and old computers can be recycled. You can find more information about recycling here.
If you're asking a third party such as a builder to remove waste from your home, make sure they are a Registered Waste Carrier. You are responsible for making sure that they are registered, so ask to see their certificate.
All businesses that create waste must have a contract with a registered waste carrier. If your business disposes of waste at a tip (in Southwark this is located at Manor Place Depot), you will have to pay a 'gate fee' - an amount per tonne of rubbish. View the legal requirements for dealing with commericial waste here.
What is Southwark Council doing about flytipping?
Cleaning up
We receive around 600 reports of flytipping every month. In order to deal with reports of dumped rubbish more quickly, we've tripled the number of fly tip lorries. As a result 96% of rubbish dumped is cleared within 24 hours. This is an improvement of 12% on last year.
Prosecutions and legal action
Flytipping is illegal. We will prosecute anyone caught flytipping in Southwark under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Those found guilty of flytipping can be fined up to £20,000 and face six months in prison. If the case goes to the Crown Court, penalties increase to two years in prison and an unlimited fine. People who dump hazardous waste (e.g. toxic waste, asbestos etc.) face five years in prison if convicted.
It is also illegal to allow someone to dump rubbish on land belonging to you if there is no Waste Management Licence for that land.
If flytipping is carried out using a vehicle, both the driver and the owner of the vehicle can be prosecuted. The police have the power to seize any vehicle used for flytipping. Reports of vehicles used for flytipping are investigated by our enforcement officers. We aim to trace and prosecute the registered owner of all vehicles involved with flytipping in Southwark.
Find out more about envirocrime
We're cracking down on enviro-crime. Here you can find out how we're tackling other types of envirocrime such as littering, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-posting.
Contact us
Tel: 020 7525 2000
environment@southwark.gov.uk
Environment and leisure
Manor Place Depot
Penrose Street
London SE17 3DW |