Overview
- The government announced on Wednesday that new legislation will raise the maximum on‑the‑spot fly‑tipping fine from £1,000 to £5,000 and increase the top street‑littering penalty to £750.
- Local councils will keep full discretion over the actual fines they issue so penalties can be scaled to match the severity of each offence.
- The measures sit inside the wider Waste Crime Action Plan and add a digital waste‑tracking service, tougher court powers that can risk operators’ licences, and expanded background checks on waste firms.
- DEFRA has issued operational guidance to help councils identify and seize vehicles used in illegal dumping and to bring prosecutions that could secure convictions.
- The government urged the public to report incidents to Crimestoppers and said the new rules aim to protect communities and the environment but enforcement will depend on councils’ resources and willingness to pursue cases.