Flytipping

The council has responsibility for acting on reports of flytipping to both remove the waste and to locate and prosecute the offenders. Where the waste is hazardous the council has a responsibility to ensure public safety until such time as the waste can be removed.

Fly tipping is the term used for illegal dumping of refuse or waste on highways, footpaths, pedestrian areas or land owned by the Council. It is a serious problem which consumes significant resources within the Borough. This is despite the availability of three civic amenity sites and a bulky collection service.

If fly tipping is reported on land not within our control we will try and contact the land owner responsible.

The fly tipping of controlled waste is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £20,000 (unlimited if indicated to the Crown Court) or an offender can even be sent to prison. It is also important to realise it is also an offence to permit fly tipping.

Fly tipping is often associated with dumping waste from vehicles. In this case the person controlling the use of the vehicle can also be prosecuted, which means that it is possible for prosecution to occur when only the vehicle, not the driver, is identifiable.

The Police also have the powers to seize vehicles used for fly tipping.

If you discover fly tipped waste after the tippers have left, please follow these simple Do’s and Don’ts:

• Do not touch the waste: fly tipped waste can be dangerous – it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or hazardous substances.
• Visually inspect the waste: try and determine what the waste consists of and how much is there is.
• Take note of its exact location: and also, whether it is in or near water.
• Do not disturb the site: there may be evidence that could help identify the culprits and lead to their prosecution.

If You See Someone Fly tipping:

If possible, please make a note of:

• The day, date and time you saw the tipping.
• What you saw.
• How many people were fly tipping and what they looked like.
• What they were actually doing.
• Any vehicles involved – the make, colour and registration number.
• Where were you when you saw the fly tipping.
• What kind of view you had.
• How far away you were.
• Weather and light conditions.
• What was tipped: how much and what it looked like

Don’t put yourself at risk!

For further information or to report fly tipping contact:

Environmental Health and Enforcement Unit

Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council

Council Offices

Wallace Green

Berwick-upon-Tweed

TD15 1ED