Fines and penalties

Fly-tipping is against the law and those convicted face fines and penalties.

• Fly-tippers can face fines of up to £50,000 and imprisonment of up to twelve months if convicted in a magistrates’ court, more severe cases receiving convictions in a crown court can be given an unlimited fine and up to five years’ imprisonment.
• As well as fines, fly-tippers may have to cover expensive legal costs.
• Vehicles can be seized or crushed and fly-tippers can be disqualified from driving.
• They may be sentenced to unpaid community service.
• Small-scale fly-tipping can be punished by issuing fixed penalty notices of up to £1,000.

Those who employ a trader that fly-tips could also be fined up to £600.

Prosecutions and fines help reduce fly-tipping to ensure council tax money is spent on other priorities, instead of clearing up fly-tipped waste.