Accumulations of waste can be a nuisance to neighbouring properties and can cause harm or pose a risk to health.
For example:
- a build-up of bin bags containing food waste can cause unpleasant odours, attract flies and be a food source for pests
- waste materials such as mattresses and soft furniture can provide shelter for pests
Talk to the person or business responsible for the waste
Complaints can often be resolved by talking to the person causing the problem.
Try to discuss the problem with the person responsible for the waste, if you feel comfortable doing so. They might not be aware that they are causing a problem. Explain to them how the rubbish is affecting you and ask them to remove it.
The government provides more information about resolving neighbour disputes and raising concerns.
Report waste in gardens and private land
If talking to the person responsible for the waste is not possible or does not work, report it to us.
We will investigate complaints about any issue that could be a statutory nuisance or could attract or provide shelter to pests.
We cannot take action about overgrown gardens where there is no waste. We are unlikely to be able to take formal action about inert waste such as building materials or scrap metals.
You can also report waste on public land. Read about how to report flytipping, litter and issues with litter bins, or abandoned residential bins.
Next steps
If we are satisfied that an accumulation of waste is a nuisance or could provide food or shelter to pests, we will require the person responsible for the rubbish or the owner of the land to remove the rubbish within a set period of time.
If the waste is not removed within the given time, we can serve the person responsible with an enforcement notice.
If they fail to comply with this legal notice, we can remove the waste and recover the cost of doing so from the landowner.
We can take further enforcement action against serious or persistent offenders.
