Fly-tipping fines to rise as council 'gets tough'

Councillor Sarah Ferriby said the changes will aim to show that fly-tipping "will not be tolerated" in Bradford

Fines for fly-tipping and littering are set to increase in Bradford as councillors vowed to "get tougher" on people dumping rubbish.

Penalties for those caught getting rid of their waste illegally will go from £400 to up to £1,000 under the proposed changes.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby said the increase was aimed at showing that fly-tipping "will not be tolerated".

The council's executive committee is due to discuss the plans on 2 September.

The current fixed penalty for fly-tipping of £400, which is cut to £300 for early payment, will be replaced by a three-tier system with a maximum penalty of £1,000 for high level offences, £400 (£300 for early payment) for medium level offences and £150 for low level offences.

High level offences include dumping hazardous or commercial waste, while medium would cover things such as a car boot load of domestic waste, and low level would apply to a single item being fly-tipped, the council said.

Littering fines will be set at £150, but reduced to £100 for early payment, and householder duty of care fines, for hiring someone to dispose of their waste who then goes on to fly-tip it, will be set at £400, discounted to £250 for early payment.

The council said the increased penalties would be accompanied by new measures to make it easier for people to take DIY waste to Household Waste Recycling Centres, as well as a reduction in weighbridge charges for vehicles taking commercial waste to the council's waste transfer sites.

There will also be new measures to make it easier for people to take DIY waste to Household Waste Recycling Centres, according to the council.

Ferriby said: "These changes send out a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated. The penalties are getting tougher. Everyone benefits from having a cleaner district."

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