The definition of flytipping is the depositing of waste on an open space or public place without the permission of the land owner and which is not an authorised waste disposal site.

Dumping rubbish is illegal and dangerous and can be detrimental to the appearance of your neighbourhood.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Sections 33 and 59, those caught or witnessed dumping items may face a prosecution in the magistrates court which carries a maximum fine of £50,000 and/or a maximum term of imprisonment of 1 year (in a Crown Court the maximum term of imprisonment is 5 years).

If you see someone flytipping or would like to report an area where flytipping has taken place, take note of the following:

• The date, time and place of the occurrence
• What the waste looks like and how much of it there is
• A description of any vehicles involved along with their vehicle’s registration number.
• Then report it to us on the contact form at the bottom of this page.

We can now issue Litter Clearing Notices.  These enable us to require the occupier or owner of land which is defaced by litter or refuse to clear it and take appropriate steps to prevent it becoming heavily defaced again.  These can be served on all types of land, private as well as public.

Allerdale Borough Council  picked up 123.4 tonnes of flytipping last year over 799 incidents at a clearance cost of £39,744.00.