Cross-border collaboration strengthens action on fly-tipping

Cotswold District Council cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, Andrea Pellegram, said the operation was a “very important proactive step” to make sure anyone involved in the disposal of waste stays within the law.  

The operation was run in partnership with Gloucestershire Police, Trading Standards and HMRC. Cotswold District Council’s focus was on identifying unlicensed waste carriers and ensuring those transporting waste are complying with legal requirements.   

The exercise also highlighted cross-border and cross-party working, with Stroud District Councillor Gill Thomas joining Cllr Pellegram and officers on the ground. 

During the operation, 42 vehicles were stopped, allowing officers to check documentation, provide guidance, and issue advisory letters to businesses without a valid waste carrier licence. Businesses that fail to obtain a licence may face a £300 fixed penalty notice.  

In addition, residents or businesses who pass their waste to unlicensed carriers and fail to carry out proper checks may also be held liable if their waste is fly-tipped, with fixed penalty notices of up to £600 issued for breaches of their duty of care. 

The operation forms a key part of the Council’s wider strategy to combat fly-tipping - an environmental crime that damages the countryside, harms wildlife, and places a significant financial burden on local authorities and taxpayers. 

Cllr Pellegram said: “Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime that blights our communities and countryside. Today’s operation demonstrates our continued commitment to tackling this issue head-on, both through robust enforcement and by working proactively with waste carriers to ensure they fully understand their responsibilities.  

“A live stop and search action like the one here today is an effective way to alert the industry that we are vigilant and will ensure they stay within the law.” 

She added that working across council boundaries and political lines allows authorities to have a greater impact. 

Cllr Thomas said it was “excellent” to join colleagues in the Cotswold district and emphasised that fly-tipping “does not have borders”. She said: “Sharing knowledge, increasing visibility and pooling resources helps councils take a stronger, more coordinated approach to protecting the environment and supporting residents.” 

Cotswold District Council continues to encourage residents and businesses to ensure that any waste is passed only to licensed carriers and to report suspected fly-tipping incidents, as part of a collective effort to keep the district clean and safe. 

More information on responsibilities and how to report fly-tipping is available at cotswold.gov.uk/flytipping.