Fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is illegal. If you see someone dumping rubbish or want to report fly-tipping, please use our online form to let us know.  

• Public land: If the waste is dumped on public land like roads or parks, we are responsible for clearing it and investigating it. We will use any evidence available to track down and prosecute those responsible
• Private land: If the fly-tipping is on private land, it's the landowner’s responsibility to remove it and dispose of it responsibly. We don't remove fly-tipped waste from private properties. 

If you're a landowner, it's your responsibility to clear any illegal waste from your land and dispose of it properly. For advice on preventing fly-tipping visit Zero Waste Scotland's website.

Before you start

You will be asked to provide the following information:

• the location of the fly-tipping
• a description of the items and how much waste there is
• any information you may have that may lead to catching the fly-tippers (if known)

How to report

You can report fly-tipping by completing our online form

Follow up enquiries for illegal dumping or items left on Housing land (such as council housing gardens, communal areas or shed areas) contact your Local Housing office.

What happens next

1. We will first check who owns the land.
2. If the land belongs to us, our Environmental Crime team will investigate. They may go through the waste to identify the person or business responsible. We may also use CCTV (static, overt and covert) to gather evidence and take action against offenders.
3. If the waste is on private land, our Environmental Crime team will still investigate and inform the private landowner that waste has been dumped on their land. However, we cannot necessarily force private landowners to remove the waste.

Fly-tipping fines and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN)

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence. Anyone caught dumping waste on council or private land could face a fine of up to £40,000 and/or 2 years in prison.

Fixed Penalty Fines (FPN) are currently set at £500. Prosecutions for non-payment and/or more serious incidents may be referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Services for potential criminal charges.