Stop fly-tipping before it starts

Check your waste carrier, protect the environment and make sure your rubbish is disposed of responsibly

Annika Collins

October 20, 2026

Could the rubbish you pay someone to take away end up being fly-tipped?

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land that isn’t authorised to receive it. From household rubbish and old furniture to garden and building waste, illegally dumped waste can cause serious problems for local councils, landowners, communities and the environment.

With Keep Britain Tidy’s Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight running from 12–25 October 2026, it’s a good time to think about what happens to your rubbish once it leaves your home.

Why is fly tipping a problem?

Fly tipping can be costly to clear up. Local councils have to spend money investigating and removing illegally dumped waste, while private landowners can be left responsible for clearing rubbish dumped on their property.

It can also damage the environment, spoil local areas and potentially harm wildlife, soil and waterways.

That’s why it’s important to make sure your waste is handled responsibly, even when you’re paying someone else to take it away.

Fly tipping

What about waste from home improvements?

Home and garden projects can create more waste than you might expect.

Whether you’re having a new bathroom fitted, clearing your garden, replacing a fence or simply having a big clear out, you may need someone to remove unwanted waste.

But don’t assume that once your rubbish has been collected, it’s no longer your concern.

Your rubbish remains your legal responsibility when you give it to someone else to dispose of.

If your waste is later found fly-tipped, you could potentially face a fixed penalty or prosecution if you haven’t taken reasonable steps to make sure it was transferred to an authorised person. Government guidance on household waste duty of care

Three things to do before your waste is collected

  1. Check your waste carrier is licensed

Don’t simply assume that a person or company advertising waste collection is legitimate.

If you’re paying someone to take away your household waste, check that they are a registered waste carrier. You can search the Environment Agency’s public register using their business name or registration number. Check the waste carrier register

  1. Ask for a receipt

Always ask for a receipt or other record when your waste is collected and keep it somewhere safe.

It can help show who collected your waste and that you took steps to use a legitimate waste carrier.

  1. Be wary of very cheap waste collections

If someone offers to take a large amount of rubbish away for a surprisingly cheap price, take a moment to check who you’re dealing with.

Ask where your waste will be taken and make sure the person or business is authorised to handle it.

Can you recycle or reuse it instead?

Before paying someone to take your unwanted items away, consider whether they could be reused, donated or recycled.

Our What to Recycle guides can help you find out how to deal with different household items and materials.

For trickier items, take a look at our Hard to Recycle Items guide.

And if you’re looking for somewhere to take something yourself, use our Recycling Locator to find recycling points and drop-off locations.

Help stop fly tipping

Fly tipping isn’t just someone else’s problem. The choices we make about our waste can help prevent it from ending up in the wrong place.

Remember:

  • Check your waste carrier is registered
  • Ask for a receipt and keep your records
  • Consider whether your unwanted items can be reused or recycled
  • Make sure your waste is going to an authorised destination

Want to recycle something? Use our Recycling Locator to find your nearest recycling point and help keep waste out of the wrong places.

 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, Annika Collins, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.