Fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste or rubbish and is a crime which reduces the quality of life for people who live, work or visit the city.
In response to feedback from residents, visitors and businesses, Southampton City Council has appointed a team of Environmental Protection Officers to reduce the amount of fly-tipping in the city.
The Environmental Protection Officers can issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to people who have been found to fly-tip. Fly-tipping is waste greater than one black sack, left on land without the owner’s permission.
What will Fixed Penalty Notices be issued for?
A Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued to any person who allows their waste to be fly-tipped or they fly-tip their own waste. This could include:
- Dumping a fridge freezer on the pavement
- Placing multiple black sacks by your wheeled bin
- Dumping grab bags, asbestos, or construction waste
- Leaving household waste and cardboard boxes at charity clothing collection points
- Using someone from Facebook to dispose of your waste, which is then fly-tipped, without obtaining their full details and a receipt
These fines are issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or the Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environmental Act 2005.
Paying your Fixed Penalty
The fixed penalty for fly-tipping is £400. This will be reduced to £250 if it is paid within ten days of the fixed penalty being issued.
Before you fill in this form
You won’t be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself five minutes to fill in this form.
You will need:
A payment card, Apple Pay or Google Pay*
Reference number – this can be found on the letter you received
Zero tolerance policy
The Environmental Protection Officers do not need to issue a warning before issuing a Fixed Penalty for fly-tipping.
If the person issued with a fixed penalty does not pay the fixed penalty the matter will be decided by a court. The court will then consider the available evidence and decide whether a fly-tipping offence was committed.
The court will usually impose a fine. The maximum fine for fly-tipping is £50,000.
An appeal process is available to consider any disputed fixed penalties. An appeal must be made within 28 days of the fixed penalty being issued.
How do I appeal a FPN (fine)?
An appeal can be made in writing (either by email or post) and must quote the reference number on the Fixed Penalty Notice.
By email: flytipping.investigation@southampton.gov.uk
By post: Fly tipping FPN Appeals, Consumer Protection and Environmental Services, Room 164, Ground Floor, Civic Centre, SOUTHAMPTON, SO14 7LY.
Report fly-tipping
You can report cases of fly-tipping to us online.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself up to five minutes to fill in the form.
Find out more about Fly-tipping.
