It is a criminal offence to fly tip. There are various levels of penalties for fly tipping, and the maximum penalty includes a fine of up to £50,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment.
Conviction in a Crown Court may result in an unlimited fine and/or five years imprisonment.
How do I report fly tipping?
You can report fly tipping as a resident of Wigan borough through MyAccount. You can also report fly tipping as a non-resident through our online form.
What is fly tipping?
Fly tipping is the illegal deposit of any waste on to land that has no licence to accept waste. In simple terms, waste should remain within your boundary/garden until you are able to dispose of it legally.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) states that "material is considered to be waste when the producer or holder discards it, intends to discard it, or is required to discard it".
Waste includes:
- General household waste, such as bin bags
- Larger domestic items e.g. fridges, mattresses etc.
- Garden refuse
- Clinical waste
- Commercial waste e.g. builders rubble, renovation waste and tyres.
Fly tipping can be found in a range of areas, including alley ways, open land, car parks, the backyard of empty properties, bridleways, country lanes, cemeteries and public footpaths.
It can be hazardous or even dangerous to the public, polluting land and waterways and damaging wildlife and ecosystems. It costs the council tax payer significant amounts of money to clear away.
Getting rid of your waste legally
Placing items you no longer want beyond your household boundary is fly tipping. Keep them secure until you have made arrangements to dispose of them lawfully. You can:
- Take them to a local waste recycling centre
- Use our collection service for any bulky items
- Arrange for someone to remove your waste. If you do this, choose a registered waste carrier and always ask to see their licence - check this on the Environment Agency public register. Get a receipt confirming what they've taken, where they've disposed of the waste and the payment made.
Reporting shopping trolleys
If you find a shopping trolley abandoned, you can download the Trolleywise App to report it. The app is available on iOS and Android. This method of reporting is supported by Tesco, Asda and many of the other major supermarkets and larger retail outlets. Alternatively you can contact the store direct.