SIXTEEN £400 fines were given to fly-tippers dumping their rubbish in Worcester in the last year.

Worcester City Council said between February 2022 and February 2023, there have been 16 people who have received fixed penalty notices of £400 each for fly-tipping after investigations were able to identify an offender.

Fly-tipping is a criminal act and people caught illegally dumping waste can be fined up to £50,000 or face five years in prison.

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Worcester City Council is responsible for the removal of fly-tipping from public land and public highways, including verges, footpaths, and bridleways, but not private land.

Waste includes general household waste; larger domestic items including fridges and mattresses; garden refuse; commercial waste such as builders' rubble, clinical waste, and tyres. 

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The council is unable to deal with waste tipped on private land as it is the responsibility of the landowner. 

If the waste blocks the road or presents an immediate hazard to traffic, it can be reported to Worcestershire County Council's Highway and Travel Department.  

Worcester City Council advises the public to take the following steps if they see someone fly-tipping.

  • Write down a description of the people fly-tipping
  • Full description of any vehicle involved, especially the registration
  • What was fly-tipped
  • What kind of view you had and whether anyone else was with you
  • Do not approach the fly-tipper
  • Do not place yourself in danger