We investigate instances of environmental crime in public places across the city. As well as undertaking enforcement action where necessary, we provide advice for residents and businesses on issues including:
- litter
- trade waste and trade bins
- domestic waste and wheeled bins
- businesses selling vehicles on the public highway
- graffiti
- illegal advertising in respect of estate agent boards and 'A-boards'
- shopping trolleys
- verge parking pilot scheme
Flytipping
Fines for flytipping can be as much as £50,000 or six months imprisonment (or both) on conviction in court.
We will investigate and remove flytipped waste from public land. Flytipping can be reported to our customer services team.
Household waste
As a householder it is your responsibility to ensure that your waste is disposed of correctly. You could be prosecuted if unauthorised waste disposal companies remove your waste and then dispose of it unlawfully.
Trade waste
Businesses have a duty of care to dispose of waste correctly and provide a valid waste transfer note from a waste carrier licensed by the Environment Agency, if requested by the council. Businesses could receive a fixed penalty of £300 or face prosecution if they fail to produce this documentation upon request.
Fixed Penalty Notices
A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) is a fine that can be issued to an individual or business. If the fine is paid, liability for an offence is discharged and means that they can not be taken to court by the local authority.
We are able to use FPNs to tackle issues such as street litter from business premises, household waste left out on the street, flyposting and the failure of businesses to produce waste documentation.
Unpaid penalty notices will result in prosecution.
Residents and businesses
| Offence | Details of offence | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Litter | This includes cigarette litter and chewing gum, and includes private land | £75 (£50 if paid within 10 days) |
| Litter clearing notice | A notice can be served asking you to clear litter or waste from parts of your land open to the air | £100 (£100) |
| Waste receptacles | Waste in the wrong receptacle, receptacle out on the wrong day, out at the wrong time or in the wrong place | £100 (£60) |
| Abandoned vehicles | Abandoning a vehicle on the highway | £200 (£120) |
| Nuisance vehicles | Selling vehicles on the road or repairing vehicles on the road causing a nuisance | £100 (£60) |
Businesses
| Offence | Details of offence | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Street litter control notice | A notice can be served asking you to clear litter or waste from the street if generated from your business | £100 (£100 if paid within 10 days) |
| Free distribution of printed matter | Handing out free matter in an area that has been designated as being prohibited | £75 (£50) |
| Waste carrier | Carrying waste without a certificate of registration as a carrier of controlled waste | £300 (£180) |
| Waste collection or disposal | Failure to produce trade waste agreement or waste transfer note | £300 (£180) |
Graffiti and flyposting
| Offence | Details of offence | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Graffiti | Unauthorised marks on the highway | £75 (£75 if paid within 10 days) |
| Graffiti | Destroying or damaging property | £75 (£75) |
| Fly posting | Unauthorised display of advertisements | £75 (£75) |