UK Expands Fly-Tipping Crackdown, No New Funding

The UK government has announced a major crackdown on fly-tipping, granting councils expanded authority to seize and crush vehicles used in illegal waste dumping and proposing up to five years in prison for offenders. New measures include deploying drones and mobile CCTV to track fly-tippers, while councils can charge offenders for vehicle seizure and storage costs. No additional funding will be provided, so councils must finance enforcement from existing budgets. Fly-tipping incidents reached a record 1.15 million last year, up 20% since 2018/19, while prosecutions have declined. The government will tighten checks on waste carriers, requiring clearer proof of competence to shut down rogue operators. Officials are also reviewing how to expand vehicle seizure powers beyond a handful of councils to ensure nationwide use.