Fly tipping

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. It can vary in scale significantly from a bin bag of rubbish to large quantities of waste dumped from trucks. Fly-tipped waste may be found anywhere, such as roadsides, in lay-bys or on private land.

Fly-tipping poses a threat to humans and wildlife, damages our environment, and spoils our enjoyment of Derbyshire Dales. Fly-tipping undermines legitimate waste businesses where illegal operators undercut those operating within the law. At the same time, the reputation of  legal operators is undermined by rogue traders who collect and fly-tip waste.

The District Council and the Environment Agency both deal with fly–tipping and work in partnership. Both organisations have the power to tackle and clean up fly-tipping on publically owned land, including roads and lay-bys. It is always the responsibility of the landowner to clear up fly-tipping on their own land.

Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence that carries a fine of up to £50,000 (unlimited if the case goes to the Crown Court). You could also face a prison sentence of up to five years. You could also face the same penalties if you allow someone to fly-tip on your land or if a vehicle that is registered to you is used to fly-tip.

Disposing of waste correctly

If you are disposing of waste you could face penalties up to £5,000 if you don't check that the company or person you give waste to has a licence to carry waste or if the company or person the waste is given to does not take it to an licensed disposal site. You can check whether a company is licensed to carry waste by searching the Environment Agency public register.

Reporting a fly-tip

If you witness a fly-tip or encounter fly-tipped waste please report it online. The District Council will visit the site to collect evidence and if sufficient evidence is collected will normally prosecute the offender. The District Council has had a number of successful recent prosecutions for fly tipping.