How To Tackle Fly Tipping On Private Land

If you’re a private landowner, nothing is more disruptive than instances of illegal fly-tipping on your land. Reports have also shown a big increase in nationwide fly-tipping cases during the COVID-19 lockdown situation.

When and if fly-tippers target your land, you need to know how to swiftly tackle the issue to limit disruption. In this article, we offer advice for tackling the aftermath of fly-tipping, as well as methods to prevent it happening again in the future. 

Fly-tipping in lockdown

In these uncertain times, waste can build up. This is especially true with the nation pursuing DIY tasks and many recycling centres temporarily closing their doors. Unfortunately, this has seen some people take the illegal route when it comes to waste disposal, and since the coronavirus lockdown began, fly-tipping has soared throughout the UK. The city of Peterborough alone recorded over 900 cases in one month, and a website where people can report instances of fly-tipping, saw reported cases surge by 75%. 

This is bad news for landowners – in fact, your land may already have fallen victim to this practice. So, let’s explore the issue a bit more. 

Why is fly-tipping a problem? 

The practice of knowingly or purposefully fly-tipping, or allowing it to happen at a manager/director level, is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Not only does fly-tipping unlawfully intrude on someone else’s land or public land, but it also shifts the responsibility and cost of then clearing that waste onto landowners and taxpayers. 

It is also a threat to local wildlife and detrimental to the health and beauty of the countryside, and could cause contamination of rivers and soil, especially if the dumped waste contains hazardous substances. 

Finally, in areas where fly-tipping has become a real issue, it can deter visitors from visiting or choosing to move to a certain area, impacting the economy. 

Who to contact if your land has experienced fly-tipping? 

Contact your local authority or the Environment Agency to see if they will support you or remove the waste – you can also report the offence to them to make them aware of the situation, and to see if prosecution can be pursued. If you have spotted a fly-tipper in the act, either by getting a photograph or the vehicle or noting down the number plate, then this will assist you even more with building a case. 

Some waste management companies are still operating business as usual throughout the pandemic, such as Woodford Recycling. These companies may be able to assist with clearing away the waste safely and efficiently by providing their services and skips. 

Be careful: It’s not wise to confront the fly-tippers yourself or to handle the waste yourself. The best thing you can do is collect evidence, and allow professionals to dispose of the waste as it may contain hazardous substances or dangerous materials. 

How can I prevent fly-tipping on my land? 

If your land is being repeatedly targeted, you may want to consider setting up CCTV cameras or other security features such as fences or barriers, or even automatic security lighting. Accompany these security features with clearly-placed warning signs, as these alone can deter would-be offenders. Before installing any access restrictions that it will not impede the day-to-day comings and going of your site or land, as you don’t want these alterations to be cumbersome to your operations. 

Perhaps your land has lots of coverage from bushes or undergrowth, making it easy for fly-tippers to be covert? In these cases, you may wish to clear some of this foliage to reduce an offender’s ability to be discreet. Also think about keeping your land tidy, as overgrown or messy land may be more attractive to fly-tippers.

You may also want to reach out to your community and see if there is a local group dedicated to preventing fly-tipping in your local area – this way, you can share findings with others who may be in the same boat. 

Here at Woodford Recycling, we’re leaders in waste management solutions for Cambridge, Peterborough and Huntingdon. Whether you’ve experienced fly-tipping or need a regular waste clearance service, we provide an array of services to help both commercial and domestic customers, and can provide skips of all sizes. Please contact us today to discover how we can help you safely tackle fly-tipping waste. You can also read more about fly-tipping in our previous article.