How do I report fly-tipping?

For people who have found illegally dumped waste on or near their property.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

Report small-scale dumping, like bin bags or a few pieces of furniture, to your council's environmental health team. Report large-scale dumping to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours), or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

If waste is dumped on your land, you're responsible for disposing of it properly.
Northern Ireland has a different process.

Key facts

Small: your council
Large: 0800 80 70 60
Anonymous via Crimestoppers

What you need before you report

Note down as much as you can. Useful details include:

what the waste is and roughly how much there is
the day, date and time you saw it
the exact location, and whether it is in or near water
a photo, if it is safe to take one
if you saw it being dumped: what the people looked like, and the make, colour and registration of any vehicle

How to report fly-tipping, step by step

Work out the size. Small-scale means things like several bin bags, 1 or 2 pieces of furniture, a small load of garden or trade waste, or a small amount of hazardous waste. Large-scale means things like a lorryload (20 tonnes or more), hazardous or industrial waste, or dumping by organised gangs.
Small-scale: tell your council. Contact the environmental health team. Use GOV.UK's find your local council tool. This applies in England, Scotland and Wales.
Large-scale in England: call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. It is open 24 hours. The Environment Agency covers England only.
Want to stay anonymous? Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (24 hours), or report online through Crimestoppers.

Type of dumping	Who to tell
Bin bags, a sofa, garden waste	Your council
Lorryloads, hazardous or industrial waste (England)	Environment Agency, 0800 80 70 60
Any waste crime, anonymously	Crimestoppers, 0800 555 111

You can also report other waste crimes, such as burning waste illegally or moving waste without being a registered waste carrier.

If rubbish is dumped on your land

You are responsible for it. You need to decide how to deal with it and pay for someone to dispose of it properly. You could be fined up to £200 if you do not.

Stop your own rubbish being fly-tipped

If you pay someone to take your waste away, you have a duty of care in England and Wales. Check they are a registered waste carrier before you hand it over. You can:

check the carrier's registration on the public register
keep a receipt that shows the business details
take a photo of their registration, or note their vehicle details

If you break this duty, you may be given a fixed penalty notice. Paying it within the time allowed means you will not be prosecuted.

If you live in Northern Ireland

Report fly-tipping to your local council. You could be fined or sent to prison for waste crime. The same details listed above help the council act.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Contact your council

Common questions

What counts as small-scale fly-tipping?

Things like several bin bags, 1 or 2 pieces of furniture, garden waste or a small load of commercial waste. Report these to the environmental health team at your council.

Can I report fly-tipping anonymously?

Yes, you can report large-scale waste dumping anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is a 24-hour service.

Who pays if rubbish is dumped on my land?

You must decide how to deal with it and pay for someone to dispose of it properly. You could be fined up to £200 if you do not.

Can I be fined if someone I paid fly-tips my rubbish?

In England and Wales you must check that anyone who takes your waste is a registered waste carrier. If you do not, you may be given a fixed penalty notice.

Official sources

1.Reporting fly-tippingwww.gov.uk/report-flytipping
2.Waste duty of care: code of practicewww.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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