This statistical notice and datasets were updated on 13th March 2024. They incorporate revisions to 8 local authorities’ data. The data revisions affect the number of fixed penalty notices reported, the number of paid fixed penalty notices, the number of prosecutions, prosecution outcomes, the number of enforcement actions, the national totals for these and the local authority enforcement league tables. All other sections of the notice and datasets are not affected. For more detail, please see the revisions section of the statistical notice.

For further information around revisions please see Defra Policy Statement on Revisions and Corrections

This publication summarises the number and type of fly-tipping incidents and the enforcement actions taken against fly tipping in England.

In the Antisocial Behaviour Action Plan, government committed to “increase transparency of the data on the use of on-the-spot fines, including publishing league tables on fly-tipping”. This release contains a set of tables to meet this commitment.

Fly tipping is the illegal deposit of waste on land contrary to Section 33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The types of waste fly tipped range from ‘black bag’ waste to large deposits of materials such as industrial waste, tyres, construction material and liquid waste. Fly tipping is a significant blight on local environments; a source of pollution; a potential danger to public health and hazard to wildlife. It also undermines legitimate waste businesses where unscrupulous operators undercut those operating within the law.

Local councils and the Environment Agency (EA) both have a responsibility in respect of illegally deposited waste. Local councils deal with most cases of fly tipping on public land, whilst the EA investigates and enforces against the larger, more serious and organised illegal waste crimes.

The associated data is available in CSV format and can be found here: Fly-tipping in England - data.gov.uk

Historic Releases

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2021 to 2022

Local authority fly-tipping enforcement league tables for England, 2021/22

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2020 to 2021

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2019 to 2020

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2018 to 2019

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2017 to 2018

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2016 to 2017

Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2015 to 2016

The next release see statistics release calendar

Defra statistics: environment

Email enviro.statistics@defra.gov.uk

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Published 18 December 2012
Last updated 13 March 2024 + show all updates

13 March 2024
Updates to HTML text file, charts and datasets.
29 February 2024
Various amendments and revisions to datasets as well as numerous textual changes.
31 January 2024
Reporting errors in the return.
17 January 2024
2023 data published.
25 August 2023
Amendments made to attachment entitled "Local Authority fly-tipping enforcement league tables for England, 2021/22".
23 August 2023
Additional fly-tipping publication, “Local authority fly-tipping enforcement league tables for England, 2021/22" added to landing page.
31 January 2023
New annual publication with data for 2021 to 2022.
8 December 2021
Three datasets updated.
8 December 2021
Updated publication with data for 2020/21 added.
24 February 2021
Statistical release with data for 2019/20.
7 September 2020
Releases for 2018/19 and 2017/18 have been made accessible.
7 November 2019
New annual publication.
15 November 2018
2018 publication released.
19 October 2017
Annual fly tipping statistical notice for 2016/17.
6 March 2017
Explanation of breach report added for this statistical notice.
2 March 2017
Annual update for the financial year 2015-16.
20 October 2015
new fly tipping figures for 2014 to 2015 published.
4 February 2015
There have been very minor data revisions made to the ‘actions’ for both 2012/13 and 2013/14 and the ‘outcomes’ figures for 2013/14.
30 October 2014
Annual update.
15 October 2013
2013 data
11 April 2013
Added a line linking to ENV24 and a new table on EA actions.
18 December 2012
First published.

Fly-tipping statistics for England

Applies to England

Documents