Fly-Tipping: What It Is & Your Legal Responsibilities

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land that has no licence to receive it. It's not just an eyesore — it damages wildlife, blights communities and costs UK taxpayers tens of millions of pounds every year to clean up.

Worse, many people are prosecuted without realising they've broken the law — often because they paid an unlicensed "man with a van" who then dumped their waste illegally. Here's how to protect yourself.

Your Duty of Care

Under UK law, you are responsible for ensuring your waste is disposed of lawfully — even if someone else carries it away. If a rogue operator fly-tips your rubbish, you can still be prosecuted.

• Always use a registered waste carrier and check their licence.
• Ask for a waste transfer note as proof of legal disposal.
• Be wary of suspiciously cheap cash-in-hand offers.