South Norfolk Council crack down on fly-tipping

The shop owner transferred their waste to an unregistered carrier, leading to the illegal dumping. Council inspectors investigated, finding till receipts, letters, and other evidence directly linking the business to the fly-tip.

A "duty of care" inspection revealed the owner could not produce valid waste transfer notes, resulting in a £300 Fixed Penalty Notice issued this month, which has since been paid in full. Failure to pay would have led to court action, potential criminal conviction, imprisonment, or an unlimited fine.

Councillor Keith Kiddie said,

It’s imperative that business owners are responsible and work with registered waste carriers when disposing of their waste to ensure our district is kept clean and taxpayer money is not spent dealing with illegal fly-tipping."

Fly-tipping is a significant burden on the district. In the 2024/25 period alone, 729 fly-tips were reported to the Council. Each incident incurs substantial costs, including officer time, land treatment, litter picking, disposal at regulated facilities, and landfill tax, with some investigations stretching on for months.

These expenses are ultimately borne by local taxpayers. The Council frequently collaborates with the Environmental Agency and the Police to tackle these offenses. When fly-tipped waste is illegally dumped on private land, including farmers' fields, it creates significant challenges. Unlike public areas, the council is often unable to directly clear these sites. This means the burden of clean up and associated costs unfortunately falls on the affected landowner and residents.

Councillor Kiddie added, "The lack of compassion for our shared environment displayed by those who illegally dump waste is unacceptable. We will continue to take robust action against anyone found to be irresponsibly disposing of their waste, whether they are a business or a resident."

South Norfolk Council urges all businesses and residents to check that anyone collecting their waste is a registered waste carrier. You can do this by visiting the Environment Agency website or contacting the Council directly for advice.