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Fly-tipping, rubbish and littering

It's important to us that our neighbourhoods and communities are clean, tidy, and are great places to call home. That’s why we take fly tipping and excessive littering very seriously.

What is fly tipping?

Fly-tipping is when unwanted items are disposed of in the wrong place. This can include unwanted household items like mattresses and electrical goods being left by the bins or by refuse storage areas. Fly-tipping also includes the wrongful disposal of industrial and commercial items. Fly-tipping is illegal, and you can be prosecuted if you’re found guilty.

Fly-tipping isn’t just an eye sore; it can pose serious environmental risks and can encourage other types of anti-social behaviour.

Items and behaviours that are considered fly-tipping

The dumping of the following items are examples of fly-tipping:

  • Mattresses and bed frames
  • Sofa and large seating
  • Cardboard waste
  • Electrical items such as hoovers, TVs, fridges and freezers
  • Bicycle and car parts
  • Children’s toys and pushchairs
  • Paint pots and decorating items
  • Door, windows and carpets.

Report fly-tipping

Managing fly tipping is very expensive and on average we spend more than £120,000 a year clearing up cases of fly tipping from our bin stores, collection points and communal grounds.

This money could be used to provide 3.5 support workers, supporting up to 210 customers a year.

If you spot fly tipping happening, report it right away.

You can report fly tipping with your local council using the links in the related items section of this page. Alternatively, report your concerns to our contact centre or speak to a Community Environmental Officer when they’re in your neighbourhood.

Get involved – tackle litter together

Are you looking to make a positive impact in your neighbourhood? If you’d like to volunteer and help litter pick in your local area, we can help. Get in touch with our Community Investment team.