It is an offence for Land Managers or managers to knowingly permit or authorise flytipping on land where a Waste Management License is not held, or where there is no registered exemption. However, if you have a problem with people flytipping on your land or in your neighbourhood, without your knowledge, there are measures you can take to deter them in future.
People dump waste for a variety of reasons, including:
- Ignorance of the law
- Lack of awareness of available facilities
- A disregard for the environment
- Being unaware of the cost to taxpayers and private Land Managers
- The belief that it's the most convenient means of disposal.
A combination of approaches is used by different stakeholders to address these issues, such as running public awareness-raising campaigns or publicising the details of successful prosecutions. But in many cases flytipping can be prevented at a particular site by making it difficult for dumpers to gain access in the first place. The following may help to deter flytippers from dumping there in future:
- Fences
- Obstacles
- Trenches
- Bunding
- Bollards
- Boulders
- Improved lighting
- Less vegetation
- Signage to discourage tipping
- CCTV
- Closed up lay-bys
- Rapid removal system
If you have been a victim of flytipping, you should report the incident to Dumb Dumpers using the stopline or online report form so it can be recorded and investigated if possible.
Your council or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) may be able to advise you about preventative measures or provide other assistance. If the waste is hazardous SEPA will respond within 24 hours and for very high-risk waste, they aim to respond within one hour of it being reported.
