| answer text |
<p>The estimated cost of clearance of fly-tipping to local authorities in 2014/15
was nearly £50 million. Local authorities dealt with nearly 900,000 incidents of fly-tipping
in 2014/15, with nearly two thirds of fly-tips involving household waste.</p><p>The
penalties for fly-tipping are imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a
fine, or both, on summary conviction; or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five
years or a fine, or both, on conviction on indictment.</p><p>In May 2016 the Government
gave local councils the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for small-scale fly-tipping
as an alternative to prosecution. The fine for a Fixed Penalty Notice is between £150
and £400 as specified by the waste collection authority, and £200 if no amount is
specified.</p><p>Local authorities are not under any legal obligation to clear fly-tipped
waste from private property, so this responsibility falls to the landowner. Depending
on the circumstances, local authorities will often provide advice and guidance on
measures that can be taken to prevent further fly-tipping, or may investigate an incident
if there is sufficient evidence. Some authorities may also offer a clearance service
but they are likely to charge for this. Government officials chair the National Fly-Tipping
Prevention Group to promote and disseminate good practice in the prevention, reporting,
investigation and clearance of fly-tipped waste.</p>
|
|
