Watford Borough Council

The fly tipping of controlled waste is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £20,000.

Fly tipping is often associated with dumping waste from vehicles. In this case the person driving the vehicle can also be prosecuted, meaning a prosecution can occur when only the vehicle, not the driver, is identifiable. 

It is also illegal to dump bags of household or other rubbish on the streets or on any other land.  Enforcement Officers can either issue a £50 fixed penalty notice against, or prosecute, individuals dumping rubbish.

If you see someone fly tipping, you can now report this online or you can call us on tel: 01923 278503. Please make a note of the date and time you saw the tipping, and also, if possible:  

• How many people were fly tipping and what they looked like
• What they were actually doing
• Any vehicles involved - their make, colour and registration number
• What kind of view you had
• How far away you were
• Weather and light conditions
• How much was tipped
• What it looked like

If you discover fly tipped waste after the tippers have left, please follow these simple do's and dont's:

• Do not touch the waste: fly tipped waste can be dangerous - it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances
• Visually inspect the waste: try to determine what the waste consists of and how much there is
• Take note of its exact location: and also, whether it is in or near water
• Do not disturb the site: there may be evidence that could help identify the culprits and lead to their prosecution

The Council has a hot spot crew to tackle fly tipping and dumped rubbish from public land. We aim to remove fly tips within one day of notification.  However very large accumulations of fly tipping that require investigation by an Environmental Crime Officer may take longer. Fly tipped and dumped rubbish found on private land is the reponsibility of the land owner.

In an attempt to reduce the number of fly tipping incidents, the Council provides a bulky waste refuse service to all its residents.  There is a charge for this service.