The cost to your community
Every year, over a million fly-tipping incidents blight our streets, parks and local spaces, costing tax-payers millions of pounds that could be better spent on vital public services like schools, libraries, parks and social care.
A huge number of these waste crimes are committed by rogue ‘white van’ operators, who lure people in with cheap deals for rubbish removal on social media, only to take their money and dump their stuff on a nearby street or lay-by. So, what might seem like a bargain, is in fact a #RubbishDeal.
Don’t fall for a #RubbishDeal
That’s why we’ve launched Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight – a national campaign to urge householders to check who you pay to take your rubbish away. If you don’t, you are inadvertently supporting criminal networks and could be liable for a Fixed Penalty Notice yourself.
Protect yourself. Protect your community. Protect your local environment.
Three simple steps
Whenever you’re arranging for rubbish to be collected, take three simple steps to avoid inviting a criminal into your home.
1. Ask for a waste carrier registration number
2. Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register or call 0300 065 3000
3. Check you’ll get a receipt
Join us in the fight against fly-tipping. Say no to a #RubbishDeal.
Don't accidentally become a waste criminal
Once your rubbish, always your responsibility.
- Don’t fall for a #RubbishDeal. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Check who you pay to take rubbish away. If they’re not licensed and don’t provide a receipt, they’re not legitimate.
- Protect yourself and your community. Avoid a personal fine and safeguard your local public services.
Local councils and policy makers can support the campaign
We’re inviting local authorities across England to join our campaign to raise awareness and call for tougher action on waste crime. Here’s how to get involved:
• Sign up to access our Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight toolkit – including a template press release and social media assets
• Engage and educate your residents about their duty of care
• Highlight the scale of the problem in your area and show how council resources and funds could be better spent on local services.
Keep Britain Tidy is calling on the government to commit to a series of policy measures to support local authorities in tackling waste crime, including:
- Shut down rogue operators by introducing tamper-proof licences, taxi-style licence plates and a central searchable register.
- Strengthen enforcement with tougher sentencing, make it easier to seize and crush vehicles and ban offenders.
- Support councils with intelligence-sharing platforms and stronger representation in the Joint Unit for Waste Crime.
- Make it easier for the public with national awareness campaigns and mandatory retailer take-back schemes for bulky items like sofas and fridges.
See our full list of policy recommendations.
Fly-Tipping Action Plan
Learn more
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping has reached epidemic proportions in this country. The latest figures for fly-tipping on public land, as published by the government, showed there were more than 1.15 million incidents in 2023/24.
Keep Britain Tidy reacts to 6% rise in fly-tipping incidents
We must help the public do the right thing with stuff they no longer want or need and address the reality of those who wake up every day to the horrors of fly-tipping on their doorstep.
Councils report ‘major problem’ over fly-tip incidents
Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime nor is it petty offending, it is organised crime that undermines responsible businesses, damages our environment and erodes public trust.