Borough of Telford & Wrekin

Fly Tipping

'Fly tipped' waste consists of large items of rubbish that are dumped illegally instead of being disposed of properly at a landfill site or Community Recycling Centre.

Fly Tip
Why is flytipping a problem?
What can we do to prevent flytipping?


The most common types of fly tipped waste are:
  • Household waste
  • Large domestic items such as fridges and mattresses
  • Garden waste
  • Commercial waste such as builders rubble, tyres and clinical waste

Why is fly tipping a problem?

Fly tipping is:
Illegal - and clearing it up costs taxpayers money.
Unsightly -
Fly tipping is a sign of a neglected neighbourhood and is associated with increased levels of crime and the fear of crime. It also discourages investment and new businesses from moving into the area.
Unsafe - dumped waste can consist of dangerous items such as syringes, asbestos and toxic waste. It can also attract rats, flies and other disease carrying pests.

In Telford & Wrekin the number of fly tips is falling thanks to a number of education and enforecement campaigns driven by the Environmental Maintenance team.
In 2007/08 a total of 3,789 fly tips were removed in Telford & Wrekin.. This compares to 4,935 in 2006/07 and 6,888 in 2005/06.

What can you do to prevent fly tipping?

Don't put up with it, report It! We can only clear it away and catch those responsible if we know it's there. Contact Environmental Maintenance by email or phone us on 01952 384384.

But be careful. Fly tippers are breaking the law and don't want to get caught.

  • Do not approach them
  • Do not go near the rubbish until you are sure it is safe
  • Do not touch anything

If you spot someone fly tipping, make a note of:

  • The date, time and place where it happened
  • What the waste looks like and how much there is
  • Any vehicles involved and vehicle registration numbers

Contact us in confidence on 01952 384384.

Fly Tip in Lane
Q. What is Telford & Wrekin Council doing about fly tipping?

A. Cleaning up

We have made a promise to you: We will remove fly tips from council land within two working days.

Prosecutions and legal action.

We will prosecute anyone caught fly tipping under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Those found guilty can be fined up to £50,000 in Magistartes Court and face up to 12 months in prison. At Crown Court, penalties increase to 5 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
People who dump hazardous waste (eg toxic waste, asbestos etc) face 5 years in prison.

You can also be prosecuted if you allow someone to dump rubbish on your land without a Waste Management Licence for that land.

If fly tipping is carried out using a vehicle, the driver and the vehicle owner (if different) can be prosecuted. We can trace and prosecute the registered owner of all vehicles involved with fly tipping in Telford Wrekin.



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Please note - Some documents published before 1st December 2006 may contain incorrect contact numbers.
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For up to date contact numbers please refer to the Guide to Council Services.