Fly-tipping
Find out how to report fly-tipping and prevent your rubbish being fly-tipped by others.
What is fly-tipping?
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of rubbish. It is punishable by a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and the possibility of an unlimited fine on conviction.
Fly-tipping:
- can seriously pollute watercourses and contaminate land.
- can endanger human health, wildlife and livestock.
- is unsightly, spoiling our communities and the quality of life for local residents.
- is seen as a major problem by over three quarters of landowners and affects 67% of farmers.
- undermines legitimate businesses who are undercut by illegal operators.
- encourages others to dump more waste.
Prevent fly-tipping
If you are a householder, landowner or run a business, you have a legal responsibility to make sure your waste isn't fly-tipped.
Householders should always check waste is being disposed of by a registered waste carrier. Only Upper Tier waste carriers can charge to take waste away. You can check the register of upper tier waste carriers on the EA website here.
If waste is dumped on private land, landowners have to clear it at their own expense.
Report fly-tipping
Contact the authorities
Your local waste collection authority clears fly-tipping on public land. Contact your local district or borough council:
| Council website | Contact |
|---|---|
| Babergh District Council | 0300 123 4000 (option 7)/ Report it online |
| East Suffolk Council | 0333 016 2000 / Report it online |
| Ipswich Borough Council | 01473 432000 / Report it online |
| Mid Suffolk District Council | 0300 123 4000 (option 7)/ Report it online |
| West Suffolk Council | 01284 763233 / customer.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk |
Alternatively, you can report bigger incidents of fly-tipping by calling the Environment Agency's 24 hour Hot Line on 0800 807 060. They investigate incidents with a greater potential to cause harm to human health and damage to the environment.
Any information you supply will be treated in strictest confidence in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.