Fly-tipping

We are responsible for the removal of fly-tipping within Erewash if on public land.

We are committed to the prosecution of offenders and urges the public to report all matters of fly-tipping.

To help us to prosecute if you can get as much information as possible of the offenders then we can take appropriate action.

What is fly-tipping?

Generally speaking, fly-tipping is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land ie waste dumped or tipped in a place with no licence to accept it. Waste includes: general domestic waste, large items such as fridges and mattresses, garden refuse, commercial waste such as builder's rubble, clinical waste and tyres.

UK waste comes under controls that impose a duty to ensure that waste is disposed of properly. Only holders of a Waste Management Licence can recover, transport, deposit or dispose of waste. Your household waste is exempt so long as it is within your own premises or garden.

Waste can only be deposited at officially authorised sites. Anyone fly-tipping waste is committing a serious offence. Fines are up to £20,000 - unlimited if indicated to the Crown Court, or an offender can be sent to prison. It is also an offence to allow fly-tipping on your land.

Where fly-tipping involves use of a vehicle, the driver can be prosecuted, as can the person in control of the vehicle. The police have powers to seize vehicles used for fly-tipping.

What is the new household duty of care?

The Waste (Household Waste) Duty of Care (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 introduced a new duty on householders from 21 November 2005. Under the new duty, householders are required to take reasonable measures to ensure that household waste produced on their property is passed on to an authorised person.

This should lead to better waste management and help to reduce illegal waste activity such as fly-tipping.

What are considered to be "reasonable measures"?

It will be up to the courts to decide what constitutes reasonable measures. The Duty emphasises the responsibility for residents not to support illegal waste transfer and fly-tipping.

What are the penalties under the new regulations?

If fly-tipped waste is traced back to a particular household, the householders could be fined up to £5000.

However, the idea is not to "run around" fining people, but to ensure that they use registered waste carriers.

How do I know if a carrier is registered or not?

Anyone removing waste from your household should be licensed with the Environment Agency to do so.

This can be checked with the EA by phoning 08708 506506 and requesting an instant Waste Carrier Validation Check.

Alternatively you can now check online through the EA’s new waste carrier register (opens in a new window) on the Environment Agency's website. Registered waste carriers can be located by postcode on the website.

What to do

Put your domestic waste in the bin or bag provided by your local authority. They will collect the waste free of charge.
Know where your local tip (civic amenity site) is and its opening times.
Take your extra household or garden waste to the civic amenity site; there is no charge.
If you need to dispose of extra or bulky waste contact your Council's waste collection service or use a licensed waste carrier.
Ask you local authority to collect any business or commercial waste; there will be a charge. Or you can employ a licensed waste collector.
Check how any people who come to work at your home intend to dispose of the waste (eg plumbers, builders, house clearers, landscape gardeners). Is it going to a licensed site for safe, legal disposal?

Further guidance for landowners and information on fly-tipping legal issues can be obtained from the Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk (opens in a new window)).

Neighbourhood Wardens

The Neighbourhood Warden service was first introduced in response to concerns by people of Erewash about anti-social behaviour and environmental crime, such as dog fouling, littering and fly-tipping.

The wardens act as the eyes and ears of the council in the community by:

Reporting crimes
Enforcing Council byelaws for offences and issuing on-the-sport fines
Gathering evidence in anti-social behaviour cases to help us take action
Advising members of the public about our services.

The Neighbourhood Wardens are easily recognisable when out and about in Erewash, wearing a blue and black uniform displaying the Neighbourhood Warden logo and driving a clearly marked van.

The wardens key areas of work include:

Fly tipping
Litter
Graffiti
Vandalism
Anti-Social Behaviour
Patrolling
Dog fouling, dangerous dogs and stray dog collection.

You can contact the Neighbourhood Wardens by:

email:contactcentre@erewash.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 907 2244
Minicom: 0115 931 6056 (for hearing and impaired people – available during normal opening hours)

Pride-line (opens in a new window): 0115 850 8383 (24 hours confidential hotline)
Our PRIDE in Erewash Campaign has been boosted by the launch of a new confidential 24-hour hotline which gives residents the power to tackle environmental crime in their local area.

For out of hours emergencies please call 0845 907 2244.

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