Flytipping
The Council has responsibility for acting on reports of flytipping on land in the open air maintained at public expense to both remove the waste and to locate and prosecute the offenders.
In an effort to reduce the number of flytipping incidences, The Council provides a special refuse collection for large items.
The flytipping of controlled waste is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £50,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court) or an offender can even be sent to prison. It is important to realise that it is also an offence to permit flytipping.
Flytipping is often associated with dumping waste from vehicles. In this case the person controlling the use of the vehicle can also be prosecuted, which means that it is possible for a prosecution to occur when only the vehicle, not the driver, is identifiable.
The Police also have the powers to seize vehicles used for flytipping.
If you discover flytipped waste after the tippers have left, please follow these simple Do's and Dont's:
- Do not touch the waste: flytipped waste can be dangerous - it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances.
- Visually inspect the waste: try to determine what the waste consists of and how much there is.
- Take note of its exact location: and also, whether it is in or near water.
Do not disturb the site: there may be evidence that could help identify the culprits and lead to their prosecution.
If you see someone flytipping:
If possible, please make a note of:
- the day, date and time you saw the tipping.
What you saw:
- how many people were flytipping and what they looked like
- what they were actually doing
- any vehicles involved - their make, colour and registration number
Where were you when you saw the flytipping:
- what kind of view you had
- how far away you were
- weather and light conditions
What was tipped:
- how much?
- what it looked like
Remember - Don't Put Yourself At Risk!
Then use the contact details below:
- Environmental Services, Stevenage Borough Council, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage, Herts SG1 1HN
- Email: environmentalservices@stevenage.gov.uk
- Tel: 0800 136661
Alternatively, you can use the online form to report a flytipping incident or an abandoned shopping trolley.
Further Information
If you have reported flytipping or an abandoned shopping trolley you can track the progress of its removal, see the link below. This information is downloaded daily and presented as a PDF file
Flytipping and Abandoned Shopping Trolley removal tracking report