Waste offences

We deal with a variety of environmental and waste enforcement issues on public and private land that can have a negative impact on the local environment. We also undertake routine patrols of hot spot areas.

Littering

  • Dropping cigarette butts is considered littering, including dropping it down drains and from a vehicle.
  • Dropping organic waste, including seed husks, is considered littering.
  • Officers patrol the town and can issue a fixed penalty notice of £500 to offenders if they catch someone dropping litter.
  • Littering is a criminal offence and failure to pay a fixed penalty notice can result in prosecution, with courts able to issue fines of up to £2500.

Illegal dumping (fly-tipping)/ waste accumulations

 Duty of care

  • Residents have a responsibility to make sure anyone collecting their waste is licensed.
  • If you do not use a licensed waste carrier, you could be issued with a fixed penalty notice or face prosecution.
  • If you use a private company to take away your waste, ask to see their waste carrier’s license. 
  • All waste carriers must have this by law. If they do not have one, or it is out of date, refuse to deal with them and report them to the Environment Agency:
  • The register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers.

Businesses have a legal responsibility to safely contain and legally dispose of any rubbish they produce. They are also obliged to hold a valid waste transfer note from their current contractor, which our officers may ask to see. If a business fails to produce the correct documentation within the time frame given, a fixed penalty notice may be issued.

Dog fouling

  • Owners must carry bags. Not having a bag is not an excuse for not picking up.
  • Dog fouling is a criminal offence and failure to pick up after your dog is punishable by fines of up to £1000.

  • Officers regularly patrol and can give fixed penalty notices to offenders.

    Report a dog fouling hot spot

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