Hundreds of fly-tipping fines unpaid

The council launched a 100-day crackdown on flytipping in May

Hundreds of fly-tipping fines have gone unpaid in Stoke-on-Trent, prompting the city council to roll out stiffer actions over the illegal dumping of rubbish.

Figures from the past year showed that more than 4 in 10 fines issued by the authority went unpaid.

The council said two fly-tipping residents had been given criminal records as a result of proceedings in 2023, and added it would be pursuing others for outstanding payments.

Additionally, the maximum fine for fly-tipping is set to increase as of 8 January from a previous cap of £400 to £1,000.

In May last year, the council’s newly-elected Labour administration launched a 100-day crackdown on fly-tipping in the city.

A relaunch this year sees the authority become one of the first in the country to adopt the increased penalty announced by the government in June.

Councillor Amjid Wazir said there was no excuse for fly-tipping

Deputy leader, councillor Amjid Wazir, said: “We have all the amenities available to help residents and businesses dispose of waste correctly, and we see no excuse for this moving forward.

“The challenge is not unique to Stoke-on-Trent, but the determination to [do] something about it is, and I hope the increased penalty notices will discourage any future cases of illegal dumping as the message cannot be clearer: ‘there is no place for illegal dumping in our towns’.”

Last year the council issued 912 fixed penalty notices where it had sufficient evidence, but 389 of these have not been paid.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “Where investigations meet evidential and public interest, they will proceed to court action.”

People face fines of up to £1,000 if they are caught fly-tipping

The increased level of fines coming into force from Monday include:

• Fly-tipping from a domestic property: £500 (formerly £400)

• Fly-tipping from a motor vehicle: £1,000 (formerly £400)

• Fly-tipping from a commercial business: £1,000 (formerly £400)

• Litter or graffiti from a domestic person: £200 (formerly £80)

• Litter or graffiti from a commercial business: £500 (formerly £80)

• Household duty of care: £600 (formerly £400)