Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fly-tipping

Thursday 27 January 2022 · 9 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 8 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Consulting on legislative reforms for waste handlers' regulation and introducing digital waste tracking.
  • Fly-tipping incidents increased last year with 1.13 million cases.
  • The waste carrier registration scheme needs urgent reform to increase competence and background checks.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Howell
Environment
Context

The increase in fly-tipping incidents has been raised as a concern.

Question

What steps are being taken to tackle the rising instances of fly-tipping?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Consulting on legislative reforms for waste handlers' regulation and introducing digital waste tracking. These measures aim to ensure offenders face full legal consequences under the Environment Act.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Crime & Law Enforcement Local Government Environment
Context

Dealing with fly-tipping in Harrow costs £1.5 million yearly for council tax payers, mostly to clear waste from private land.

Question

In the London Borough of Harrow, dealing with fly-tipping on public highways alone costs council tax payers £1.5 million each year just to clear it up. The worst aspect is fly-tipping on privately owned land. What further measures can be taken to highlight these perpetrators and ensure they face legal consequences?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Fly-tipping incidents increased last year with 1.13 million cases. The Government is taking robust action through recent consultations and a grant scheme for councils to tackle fly-tipping, urging Harrow Council to bring more prosecutions forward as they did not do so last year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Urging the council to take action but no specific measures outlined by the Government.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Andrew Selous Con
Environment
Context

Fly-tipping is turning parts of the country into litter tips, costing local authorities significant sums in cleanup.

Question

Will the Government ensure that the section 33 offence attracts a fixed penalty of at least £2,000, much more than the price of a skip? The fixed penalty for the section 34 offence should also rise to £1,000. What further measures can be taken to deter fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Agrees that fixed penalty notices need to act as deterrents; producing a new guide on robust prosecutions, digital waste tracking will allow householders to track their waste properly and ensure transparency in the industry.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific financial penalties mentioned but acknowledges the issue.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Paul Howell
Environment
Context

Waste removal licences are easily obtained, leading to undercutting of legitimate businesses by individuals who provide poor waste services.

Question

Since I was elected, constituents have written to me continuously about fly-tipping. One reason is the ease with which people can obtain waste removal licences. Will the Minister explain what the Government plans to do to increase the detail in which these checks are undertaken?

Answer from Jo Churchill

The waste carrier registration scheme needs urgent reform; measures announced will increase competence and background checks needed to operate, making it easier for regulators to take enforcement action against illegal operators.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify details of the reform but acknowledged its necessity.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Environment
Context

Illegal fly-tipping has doubled in England between 2012 and 2019, with councils spending almost £13 million yearly cleaning up waste.

Question

Councils are struggling to combat illegal fly-tipping due to cuts to resources available for enforcement. What more can the Government do to ensure that those agencies have the tools and finances they need?

Answer from Jo Churchill

The Environment Agency received additional funding of £60 million in 2019; councils are supported with better processes and guidance to bring criminals to account, ensuring the system is joined up to track waste from source to destination.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify current enforcement agency's tools or finances but mentioned past funding increase.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Environment
Context

Fly-tipping is a blight across the UK, affecting both rural and urban areas.

Question

What recent assessment has the Minister made of the need for fly-tipping to be treated as organised crime so that investigations are properly resourced?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Fly-tipping is similar in seriousness to the narcotics industry; aiming to crack down and ensure illegal operations are hounded out of the waste disposal sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a recent assessment but acknowledged similarity to organised crime.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q7 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Environment
Context

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs cleaned up 306 illegal waste sites in the past two years at a cost of half a million pounds.

Question

May I first thank the Minister for her enthusiasm in the matter? The most recent statistics from back home show that in the past two years the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs cleaned up 306 illegal waste sites, costing half a million pounds or the equivalent of 15 nurses' pay. What discussions has the Minister had with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss how we can combat these issues together and take the pressure off local councils?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I meet Ministers from the devolved Administrations regularly. I have not had specific conversations on the matter, but I would be happy to because fly-tipping knows no boundaries. We need to sort it out together.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions with Northern Ireland Executive counterpart were not addressed

How: I Have Not Had Specific Conversations On The Matter

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q8 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Wales Environment
Context

Wales has seen its household recycling rates increase from just 4.8% in 1999 to more than 65% in 2021.

Question

I would like to begin by acknowledging that today is Holocaust Memorial Day. May we never see such hatred and wickedness again. The Minister will know that many fly-tips consist mainly of household waste. Wales has seen its household recycling rates catapult from just 4.8% in 1999 to more than 65% in 2021. That is the difference a Labour Government makes. Will the Minister join me in acknowledging the success of the Welsh Labour Government and tell the House what lessons she is learning from them?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I associate myself with the hon. Lady's comments about the holocaust. Consistent collections, ensuring we can collect the seven strands of waste, will allow all households in this country to make sure they are recycling. Coupled with the deposit return scheme and other measures in the Environment Act 2021, they will ensure that everybody in England can recycle easily and consistently.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledgment of Welsh Labour Government's success was not addressed

How: I Associate Myself With The Hon. Lady'S Comments About The Holocaust

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q9 Steven Baker Con
Environment
Context

Including cartons in the deposit return scheme could be a step to tackle fly-tipping.

Question

I am grateful that my hon. Friend the Minister mentions the deposit return scheme, because including cartons in the scheme is one extra step the Government could take to tackle fly-tipping. Please will she meet Tetra Pak, based in my constituency, to discuss the feasibility of the onward processing of cartons, which I believe would make that inclusion a practical possibility?

Answer from Jo Churchill

As my hon. Friend knows, we will announce more information on the deposit return scheme shortly. I would, of course, be happy to meet his constituent for further discussions. I do not think we should rule anything out, but nor am I making any promises.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to include cartons in the scheme was not addressed

How: I Do Not Think We Should Rule Anything Out, But Nor Am I Making Any Promises

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)