Fly-tipping and litter
How do you report fly-tipping?
If you see fly-tipping in progress, please call 999 and ask for the police. Don’t engage with the fly-tipper(s).
If a road is blocked by waste, report it to Surrey County Council.
If you’ve found fly-tipping anywhere else, e.g., on a footpath, report it to the local district or borough council where the fly-tipped waste is located.
Fly-tippers may face unlimited fines, up to five years’ imprisonment, legal costs, destruction of vehicles, disqualification from driving and / or unpaid community service.
If your waste is fly-tipped and you haven’t taken reasonable steps to prevent this, you could receive a fine of up to £600.
You must ensure you use a registered waste carrier. Find out if they are registered by looking on the Environment Agency’s public register or by calling 03708 506 506.
Refuse unexpected offers to take away your waste and avoid traders who knock on doors or use unverified adverts, e.g., contact through social media.
Ask your trader what will happen to your waste. Reputable waste carriers won’t be offended by reasonable questions. Get a receipt or invoice that includes the waste carrier’s contact details and keep it safe.
To find out more about what is expected of you if you produce, carry, keep, dispose of, treat, import or have control of waste in England or Wales, read the Government’s waste duty of care code of practice.
If you have concerns that a trader isn’t disposing of waste correctly there are two things you can do:
- Call the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
- Report your concerns anonymously to Crimestoppers online.
As an owner, occupier or manager of land you have a duty of care to make sure that any waste illegally dumped on your land is taken away and disposed of safely and responsibly. Councils are only able to clear up fly-tipped waste on public land within their boundaries. Your local district or borough council may be able to work with you to target those fly-tipping on your land and you should still report the fly-tip to your district or borough council to help target those responsible.
Please do not litter. Find a nearby bin or if one isn’t available, keep your rubbish until you find one or can use a bin at home.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is an offence to drop litter. Councils can issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 for littering, which can rise to £2,500 if the fine isn’t paid.
If you want to report a build-up of litter on public land, you will need to contact your local district or borough council.
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