Fly-tipping
Preventing fly-tipping
Advice for householders
You can dispose of most household waste at the network of waste and recycling centres around Suffolk: Suffolk Recycles - Recycling centres. If this isn’t convenient then the council can arrange to come and collect a wide range of items from you through the councils Bulky household waste collection service.
However, if you are considering using anyone else to dispose of your waste, please watch our short film: YouTube - Tripping up the Tippers first and remember the SCRAP code:
- Suspect - beware of rogue waste carriers who dump waste illegally. If in doubt do not let them take your waste.
- Check - ask to see their waste carrier's licence. You can check the details on Department for Environment and Rural Affairs - Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers or by phoning 08708 506506. Note down the licence details and the registration number of the vehicle used to take your waste away.
- Refuse unsolicited offers - always carry out your own research and choose who you want to take your waste away.
- Ask questions - ask what is going to happen to your waste, and seek evidence that it is going to be disposed of appropriately. A legitimate, professional waste carrier should not object to being asked reasonable questions.
- Paperwork - make sure you get a proper invoice and receipt for your waste.
For more information, see the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group - Advice for householders and the GOV.UK - Waste duty of care code of practice
Advice for businesses
Businesses have a broader duty of care than householders and are required to ensure that waste is stored safely and securely, and that waste information notes are completed for each load of waste removed. Full details of your responsibilities can be found on GOV.UK - Dispose of business or commercial waste
- If you give your business waste to anyone other than our own Commercial waste services or take it to one of the Suffolk Recycles - Recycling centres, you must check that they are a registered waste carrier. You can check the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs - Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers or phone 08708 506506.
- You must make sure that you complete waste information notes (often called waste transfer notes) relating to all waste that comes from your business. You must keep these for a period of two years. Failure to produce these notes when asked by ourselves or the Environment Agency is an offence, and you could be fined.
For more information, see the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group - Advice for businesses for individuals and the GOV.UK - Waste duty of care code of practice.
Advice for landowners
Landowners are responsible for removing and disposing of any waste fly-tipped on their land. You can protect your land from fly-tipping by:
- installing gates or barriers, ideally in keeping with the natural environment
- making sure that gates are closed when not in use
- improving visibility so that fly-tippers are not hidden from view
- appropriate signage, CCTV or dummy cameras.
- swiftly clearing any dumped waste to discourage others from adding to it
- report all incidents to the council - whilst the council will not remove waste free of charge, we can investigate and take enforcement action where possible - in the event of prosecution this can include an application to the courts to receive landowner's costs
For more information, see the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group - Advice for landowners.
Preventing fly-tipping
Advice for householders
You can dispose of most household waste at the network of waste and recycling centres around Suffolk: Suffolk Recycles - Recycling centres. If this isn’t convenient then the council can arrange to come and collect a wide range of items from you through the councils Bulky household waste collection service.
However, if you are considering using anyone else to dispose of your waste, please watch our short film: YouTube - Tripping up the Tippers first and remember the SCRAP code:
- Suspect - beware of rogue waste carriers who dump waste illegally. If in doubt do not let them take your waste.
- Check - ask to see their waste carrier's licence. You can check the details on Department for Environment and Rural Affairs - Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers or by phoning 08708 506506. Note down the licence details and the registration number of the vehicle used to take your waste away.
- Refuse unsolicited offers - always carry out your own research and choose who you want to take your waste away.
- Ask questions - ask what is going to happen to your waste, and seek evidence that it is going to be disposed of appropriately. A legitimate, professional waste carrier should not object to being asked reasonable questions.
- Paperwork - make sure you get a proper invoice and receipt for your waste.
For more information, see the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group - Advice for householders and the GOV.UK - Waste duty of care code of practice
Advice for businesses
Businesses have a broader duty of care than householders and are required to ensure that waste is stored safely and securely, and that waste information notes are completed for each load of waste removed. Full details of your responsibilities can be found on GOV.UK - Dispose of business or commercial waste
- If you give your business waste to anyone other than our own Commercial waste services or take it to one of the Suffolk Recycles - Recycling centres, you must check that they are a registered waste carrier. You can check the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs - Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers or phone 08708 506506.
- You must make sure that you complete waste information notes (often called waste transfer notes) relating to all waste that comes from your business. You must keep these for a period of two years. Failure to produce these notes when asked by ourselves or the Environment Agency is an offence, and you could be fined.
For more information, see the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group - Advice for businesses for individuals and the GOV.UK - Waste duty of care code of practice.
Advice for landowners
Landowners are responsible for removing and disposing of any waste fly-tipped on their land. You can protect your land from fly-tipping by:
- installing gates or barriers, ideally in keeping with the natural environment
- making sure that gates are closed when not in use
- improving visibility so that fly-tippers are not hidden from view
- appropriate signage, CCTV or dummy cameras.
- swiftly clearing any dumped waste to discourage others from adding to it
- report all incidents to the council - whilst the council will not remove waste free of charge, we can investigate and take enforcement action where possible - in the event of prosecution this can include an application to the courts to receive landowner's costs
For more information, see the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group - Advice for landowners. The Environment Agency have also produced a short guidance video for landowners.