Fly-tipping continues to rise across England, with over 1.26 million incidents reported in 2024/25, highlighting the growing challenge faced by local authorities, landowners and businesses.
While illegal dumping often occurs on roadsides and public spaces, fly tipping on private land is also a significant issue. In these cases, the responsibility for clearing the waste falls to the landowner, making it important to understand both your obligations and the correct steps to take.
Fly-Tipping Law: What You Need to Know
In the UK anyone who produces waste has a legal duty of care to ensure it is disposed of properly. This means checking that the person collecting your waste is authorised and that it will be taken to a licensed waste facility.
Failing to do this could result in your waste being illegally dumped.
If waste is deposited on your land, fly tipping on private land law generally places the responsibility for removal on the landowner, even if you were not responsible for the dumping itself. This is why working with licensed waste professionals is essential, as they often offer fly tipping clearance services.
How Businesses and Homeowners Can Help Prevent Fly-Tipping
Whether you are a business, contractor or homeowner, you have a legal duty of care to ensure your waste is disposed of properly. Taking a few simple steps can help prevent waste from ending up in illegal dumps:
- Use a reputable waste management company
- Check the company holds a registered waste carrier licence
- Ensure waste is taken to a licensed waste disposal facility
- Request a Waste Transfer Note (WTN) for your records
These steps help ensure your waste is handled responsibly and remains fully traceable. Failing to check these details can mean your waste ends up being fly-tipped, which could potentially leave you liable.
Reducing Fly Tipping with Digital Waste Tracking
But the responsibility doesn’t just lie with you. As of October 2026, any waste management services will be required to digitally record their waste movements under new Mandatory Digital Waste Tracking regulations.
Why does this matter?
This new legislation means the government is clamping down on fly tipping. The aim of monitoring waste movements is to ensure fly tipping clearance services take the waste to a licensed disposal facility rather than simply dumping it at the side of the road.
As it covers a wide range of waste types, including commercial waste, electronic waste and hazardous waste, it creates a clear digital trail for waste movements, helping authorities ensure it reaches licensed facilities and reducing opportunities for fly tipping.
How AMS Supports Responsible Waste Management
If you discover fly tipping on private land, it is important to arrange safe and compliant removal as soon as possible.
At Avon Material Supplies, we provide reliable fly tipping clearance services across Dorset, Somerset and surrounding areas. Our team can remove and responsibly dispose of both non-hazardous and hazardous waste, ensuring materials are handled through licensed waste facilities.
AMS also operates licensed waste management sites and a compliant waste collection service, providing a trusted disposal option for contractors, waste carriers and homeowners.
Fly-tipping remains a serious environmental and economic issue, but responsible waste management can help reduce the problem. By ensuring waste is handled by licensed professionals and disposed of correctly, businesses and individuals can play an important role in preventing illegal dumping.
If you need support with fly tipping clearance or are dealing with fly tipping on private land, AMS are here to help. Call 01202 579579 to speak with AMS today.