Tougher Fines to Tackle Fly-Tipping and Protect Our Environment

South Oxfordshire District Council are stepping up efforts to combat environmental crimes with stricter penalties for fly-tipping, littering and for householders who fail to ensure that their waste will be disposed of legally.  

From 1 April 2025, those who fail to meet their legal responsibilities for waste disposal will face significantly higher fines as part of a national crackdown on anti-social behaviour. 

Environmental crimes like fly-tipping harm wildlife, damage public spaces and cost taxpayers millions in clean-up efforts. The tougher fines, introduced by the government, aim to deter offenders and ensure those who disregard the law face serious consequences.  

Key changes include: 

• Householder duty of care breaches: on-the-spot fines will rise from £300 to £600. 

• Fly-tipping: maximum fixed penalty notices will increase from £400 to £1,000. 

• Littering and graffiti: fines will rise from £80 to £500. 

Failure to pay these fines may lead to prosecution in court, which could result in an unlimited fine or even imprisonment for large-scale fly-tipping offences. 

How to Tackle Fly-Tipping and Enviro Crimes

Residents play a vital role in keeping our communities clean. If you spot a fly-tip or suspect someone is involved in illegal waste disposal, littering or graffiti, please report it via the council’s website or contact Biffa at 03000 610 610. 

If you spot an incident taking place, try to discretely record details of the vehicle and/or individuals involved – photos and video are especially useful, but please do not risk your safety by challenging someone who is committing a crime. 

To report enviro crimes, such as fly-tipping, littering, graffiti and dog fouling, visit SODC’s EnviroCrime web page.