On Tuesday, April 29, the Government revealed that waste criminals, fly-tippers and cowboy waste operators could have vehicles seized and crushed - and that in addition, waste cowboys will now face up to five years in prison for operating illegally.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, said: “We welcome these new measures designed to help councils that are desperately fighting the scourge of fly-tipping, which is covering our communities with hazardous, filthy waste. It’s vital that waste is managed legally as a matter of urgency and that materials are recaptured through reuse and recycling rather than left to pollute our streets, parks and countryside."
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain TidyIt’s vital that waste is managed legally as a matter of urgency and that materials are recaptured through reuse and recycling rather than left to pollute our streets, parks and countryside.
“Flytipping is not a victimless crime. Aside from the estimated £1bn waste crime costs the economy each year, the cost to the environment is unquantifiable. It is therefore absolutely crucial that consequences are in place to deter the environmental vandals creating this mess.
“We have long called for the seizure of vehicles involved in waste crime and are really pleased to see the Government are moving to facilitate this, and the measures contained in this announcement which will be hugely welcome to councils.
"Beyond this, we are calling for clearer, taxi-style licensing to help people identify legitimate waste-carriers from the criminals coming to their doors, and a mandatory take-back scheme for producers of bulky household items like mattresses and sofas to ensure that commonly fly-tipped goods are disposed of responsibly reducing fly-tipping and carbon in a single move.”
*originally published 30/04/2025*