Government plans to introduce 'clean-up squads' for fly-tipping offenders have been launched for public consultation today, 20 August 2026. The proposals aim to empower councils to make those who fly-tip responsible for clearing up their waste and covering the associated costs.
Under the proposed measures, councils would gain stronger powers to issue conditional cautions. These cautions could require offenders to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work. Additionally, councils would be able to recover the costs of the clean-up directly from offenders, aiming to prevent taxpayers from bearing the financial burden.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle stated that if individuals fly-tip, they should be the ones cleaning it up and paying for it. She added that the aim is to give councils new powers to ensure offenders take responsibility for their actions. These proposals follow earlier action in July to increase maximum on-the-spot fines for fly-tipping to £5,000, a 400% increase from the previous £1,000.
Further measures announced today include a new Tackling Waste Crime Alliance, bringing together government, regulators, police, and councils. A review into raising the level of Fixed Penalty Notices issued by the Environment Agency for waste crime offences is also underway. The consultation period for these proposals will last for 8 weeks, concluding at 23:59 on 16 October 2026.