The Effects of Fly-Tipping

Fly-tipping is the illegal disposal or dumping of liquid or solid waste onto land or water that is not permitted to receive it. Waste is usually dumped to avoid the costs associated with legal disposal.

Fly-tipped waste can be found anywhere, on roadsides, in lay-bys or on private land.

This illegal dumping can be perpetrated by individuals or by organised gangs. Individuals tend to illegally dispose of household waste items such as electrical items, furniture or bin bags full of rubbish in the street.

Large scale fly-tipping can involve several truckloads of construction and demolition waste being illegally disposed of.

Even registered waste disposal firms employed to carry out legal and responsible waste management have been caught fly-tipping as a means of cost-cutting.

What are the Most Frequently Fly-tipped Items?

Households are producing ever more waste, and statistics indicate that two-thirds of all fly-tipping incidents involve household items rather than commercial waste.

Across the UK, the most frequently illegally discarded items are:

• Vehicle components
• Construction materials
• Hazardous materials
• White goods
• Furniture: mattresses, sofas, tables, beds
• Garden waste
• Household waste

What Causes Fly-Tipping?

As the responsibility of clean up operations falls onto local authorities, fly-tipping prevention measures are typically council driven initiatives. 

However, as we have outlined, fly-tipping can occur on private property and directly impact business and property owners.

WCCTV has supported local authorities across the UK with fly-tipping prevention for over 20 years, but the advice below can be applied to every area affected by fly-tipping. 

1. Increase Visibility:

Most fly-tipping occurs at night when those responsible believe there is less chance of being caught or identified. Increasing lighting in areas affected by fly-tipping is a simple and effective deterrent that will also aid in the identification of offenders.

2. Deploy Enforcement Officers:

If your borough is being affected by fly-tipping, consider investing in mobile security personnel to patrol the areas. 

3. Install CCTV:

WCCTV's redeployable cameras are the ideal solution to deter and detect fly-tipping. Our mobile, wireless cameras can be quickly and easily deployed to fly-tipping hotspots and relocated once the issues are resolved. They feature sophisticated ANPR technology to aid in identifying offenders and secure prosecutions. 

4. Signage:

If you install CCTV, installing signage will help boost its effectiveness as a preventative deterrent. Potential fly-tipper will likely head the warnings that their actions are being monitored and recorded and look for other waste disposal methods. 

5. Fixed Penalties:

One of the key motivating factors for those involved in fly-tipping is cost-cutting. If perpetrators are aware that you are actively monitoring fly-tipping hotspots and imposing fines with serious financial repercussions, it is likely to be a highly effective deterrent. 

WCCTV: Redeployable Cameras for Fly-Tipping Prevention