Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste including general household rubbish, larger household items (e.g. fridges, washing machines and beds), garden waste or commercial waste (e.g. builders’ rubble, tyres, asbestos and clinical waste).
Fly-tipping can be dangerous to people and wildlife, it pollutes land and waterways and costs the tax payer significant amounts of money to clear away.
We all have a legal ‘duty of care’ to ensure that we dispose of our household or business waste correctly . If it is your waste, it’s your responsibility.
For information on how to dispose of unwanted items safely and legally at the local Household Waste Recycling Site.
Fly tipping on public land
We will investigate and arrange clearance of fly tipped waste on publicly owned land such as the highway, lay-byes, bus shelters, subways, council car parks and Recycling Bring Sites.
Fly tipping on private land
The removal of fly tipping on private land is the responsibility of the land owner. However, we will investigate reports of fly tipping on private land and prosecute the offenders where able. We encourage land owners to report fly tipping on their land to us as this helps create a better picture of fly tipping across the district and also allows us to potentially link with cases already under investigation.
For advice on how to minimise the risk of fly tipping on your land visit National Fly-tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG).
Reporting fly tipping
You can help us in the fight against fly tipping by reporting it. Please remember to include your details if you have information about the fly tip.
If you discover a fly tip, please report it as soon as possible and don’t touch the waste as you could jeopardise any potential prosecution. In addition, you may risk your health and well being if the waste contains hazardous material.
If the rubbish is blocking a road and our offices are closed, please contact East Sussex County Council’s Highway Emergency response officer on 0345 60 80 193 or call Sussex Police if there is an immediate danger to road users.
What happens when you report fly tipping?
One of our street scene officers will visit the scene to assess the waste and arrange removal if applicable. We aim to clear all fly tips within 2 working days.
Penalty for fly tipping
We treat this problem very seriously. We investigate and take action against anyone responsible for fly tipping. Fly tipping is a criminal offence. It carries an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to 5 years.