NEWS STORY : Government Launches Crackdown on Fly-Tipping: Vehicles to Be Seized and Crushed
STORY
The UK government has announced a robust initiative to combat the escalating issue of fly-tipping, empowering local councils to seize and destroy vehicles used in illegal waste dumping. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the surge in fly-tipping incidents across the country. Under the new measures, councils will collaborate with police forces to identify, confiscate, and crush vehicles involved in fly-tipping activities. The initiative also includes the deployment of drones and mobile CCTV units to monitor and apprehend offenders. Furthermore, individuals caught transporting or dealing with waste illegally now face up to five years in prison.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling waste crime, stating:
“Waste criminals and fly-tippers who blight our towns and villages have gone unpunished for too long. That ends today. The Government is calling time on fly-tipping. I will not stand by while this avalanche of rubbish buries our communities.”
The crackdown comes in response to a significant rise in fly-tipping incidents, with over 1.15 million cases reported in England during 2023-24, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. Local authorities have already begun implementing these powers. For instance, South Derbyshire District Council recently seized and crushed a vehicle linked to multiple fly-tipping offences, displaying the crushed car publicly as a deterrent. The Environment Agency will also receive additional resources to conduct identity and criminal record checks on waste operators, aiming to eliminate rogue firms from the industry. These reforms are part of the government’s “Plan for Change” which is focusing on creating safer streets and restoring public confidence in waste management practices.
