Fly Tipping
Everyone has heard of fly tipping but what exactly is it?
It is the dumping of waste illegally onto land that is not licensed to take it such as roadsides, verges, recreation grounds etc.
- It is a chargeable offence and carries severe penalties
- It can pose a danger to people and wildlife
- If an act of fly tipping is witnessed or a load of fly tipped material is found it should be reported immediately to either the local borough / district council, the police or the Environment Agency
Waste that is dumped without permission at licensed waste facilities or at their gate, such as Community Recycling Centres, is also classified as fly tipping.
Fly tipping usually occurs at lay-bys, roadside verges, common land, recreation grounds, communal parking on council estates and other land open to the public. The type of waste includes general household waste, larger domestic items such as fridges and mattresses, garden refuse and commercial waste such as builders' rubble, clinical waste and tyres. It is at best an eye sore and at worst a risk to human health and the environment. It is also an economic burden as it is usually cleared away at the expense of the taxpayer.
If the waste is hazardous it can be dangerous to people and animals. If you suspect the waste to be hazardous then the authorities should be contacted to inspect it.
If a company or trader is prosecuted for fly tipping they can be fined up to £20,000 in a Magistrates Court, and the fine is unlimited in the Crown Court. Individuals caught dumping household waste are also fined and can receive a custodial sentence.
There are several agencies who cooperate in order to track down and prosecute fly tippers. If you have details about fly tipping offences, including the identification of an individual person or car, and time and date of the offence, then you should call the Environment Agency in the first instance. Emergency telephone number: 0800 807060
(Source: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk)
Surrey County Council is responsible for the removal of fly tipped waste from county highway land. You could Report it online or call our contact centre on 08456 009 009. Whereas, the removal of fly tipped waste from public land is the responsibility of the local borough and district council. If you did not see the fly tipping take place but wish to report it to the officer in charge at your local council. The contact details are:
| Council | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|
|
Elmbridge Borough Council |
01372 474775 |
|
|
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council |
01372 732000 |
Report online |
|
Guildford Borough Council |
01483 444499 |
|
|
Mole Valley District Council |
01306 873546 |
|
|
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |
01737 276000 |
Report online or email neighbourhood@reigate-banstead.gov.uk |
|
Runnymede Borough Council |
01932 425194 |
|
|
Spelthorne Borough Council |
01784 446411 |
|
|
Surrey Heath Borough Council |
01276 707330 |
|
|
Tandridge District Council |
0800 783 4843 |
|
|
Waverley Borough Council |
01483 523425 |
|
| Woking Borough Council | 01483 775422 | helpdesk@woking.serco.com |