CLA welcomes ringfencing of fly-tipping fines for local clean-ups

Money raised from fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping and littering will now be ringfenced to be spent on local clean-up and enforcement.

The move came into force on 1 April, Recycling Minister Robbie Moore confirmed in a move welcomed by the CLA.

Country Land and Business Association President Victoria Vyvyan said:

“We welcome these regulations that ringfence receipts for enforcement and clean-up operations, and urge local authorities to use the revenue to help clear up waste dumped on public and farm land, and clamp down hard on offenders.

“With one million incidents on public land alone last year, fly-tipping blights communities and the landscape, damaging the environment, risking public health and costing taxpayers thousands to clear up.

“As well as incidents on public land, farmers are also victims of fly-tipping and have to pay to have dumped waste removed from their land, only adding to the injustice. Therefore fixed penalty notice receipts must be used to help clear up incidents on both public and private land.”

Defra said the new rules mean money will go directly back into repairing the damage from these crimes or into enforcement efforts to prevent similar incidents from happening again. This could include the funding of additional enforcement officers to crack down on litter and fly-tipping, it added.

Recycling Minister Robbie Moore said:

“Litter louts and career waste criminals need to know we are cracking down hard. Their inexcusable crimes spoil communities, create dangers for children and threaten wildlife.

“We’ve already increased the maximum fines for these damaging crimes and now money raised from bringing them to justice will ensure more enforcement and help to clear up their sickening mess.”