Councils Given New Powers to Tackle Fly-Tipping Vehicles

The Government has announced new powers for councils aimed at tackling the persistent problem of fly-tipping across England’s streets, lanes and rural areas. Under the latest measures, local authorities will be able to seize and destroy vehicles involved in waste crime without requiring a conviction, helping to deter illegal dumping and keep communities cleaner.

This change is part of a broader crackdown on environmental crime and follows calls from councils and campaigners for stronger enforcement tools. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) highlighted that waste crime costs the economy an estimated £1 billion per year, placing a significant burden on taxpayers and local services.

Under the new rules, councils can immediately crush or permanently remove vehicles suspected of involvement in fly-tipping, streamlining the process and reducing the resources previously needed to take enforcement action.

Environment Minister Robbie Moore stated that the measures would empower councils to take decisive action against repeat offenders and organised criminal activity linked to illegal waste disposal.

The Government has also committed to supporting councils with guidance on using these new powers effectively. These changes build on other initiatives to tackle waste crime, including increased fines for fly-tipping and further investment in enforcement resources.

The RSN recognises the damaging impact of fly-tipping on rural communities, where illegal dumping often occurs in isolated areas, blighting the countryside and creating costly clean-up challenges for local authorities and landowners.