Tougher fines to tackle fly-tipping and protect our environment
Ardington & Lockinge Parish Council
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are stepping up efforts to combat environmental crimes with stricter penalties for fly-tipping, littering and for householders who fail to ensure that their waste will be disposed of legally.
From 1 April 2025, those who fail to meet their legal responsibilities for waste disposal will face significantly higher fines as part of a national crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
Environmental crimes like fly-tipping harm wildlife, damage public spaces and cost taxpayers millions in clean-up efforts. The tougher fines, introduced by the government, aim to deter offenders and ensure those who disregard the law face serious consequences.
Key changes include:
- Householder duty of care breaches: on-the-spot fines will rise from £300 to £600.
- Fly-tipping: maximum fixed penalty notices will increase from £400 to £1,000.
- Littering and graffiti: fines will rise from £80 to £500.
Failure to pay these fines may lead to prosecution in court which could result in an unlimited fine or even imprisonment for large-scale fly-tipping offences.
Your Rubbish, your responsibility – your duty of care
Under the law, householders must ensure that their waste is disposed of legally and responsibly. Even when hiring someone to remove rubbish, you remain accountable.
If someone’s waste is found fly-tipped and they have failed to verify that the person or trader was legally authorised to handle it, or they failed to retain documentation, they could face an on-the-spot fine.
Don’t become a victim of crime – how to stay legal when having waste removed
To avoid penalties:
- Check waste carriers: always verify that the person removing your rubbish is a registered waste carrier. Use the Environment Agency’s public register -environment.data.gov.uk/public-register or call 03708 506 506.
- Keep Records: obtain a receipt or transfer note with details of the waste carrier, their contact information and where your waste will be disposed of. Also, record the vehicle details, such as make and registration.
For more information on your duty of care and proper waste disposal methods, visit:
Help us to tackle fly-tipping and enviro crimes – please report it!
Residents play a vital role in keeping our communities clean. If you spot a fly-tip or suspect someone is involved in illegal waste disposal, littering or graffiti, please report it via the council’s website or contact Biffa on 03000 610610.
If you spot an incident taking place, try to discretely record details of the vehicle and/or individuals involved – photos and video are especially useful, but please do not risk your safety by challenging someone who is committing a crime.
To report enviro crimes, such as fly-tipping, littering, graffiti and dog fouling, visit:
Contact Information
Jane Humphreys
- 07989866938
Find Ardington & Lockinge Parish Council
Ardington, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 8HN