Fly-tippers will now face maximum monetary penalties of up to £5,000, an uplift of £4000 from the previous limit of £1,000.
The top fine for littering on streets will also be increased to £750 from £500 – up 50%.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “Fly-tipping and littering is a disgrace that blights local communities.
“Under this government, criminals who break the rules will face heftier fines to clean up the mess they make.
“We are sending a clear message to those who dump their rubbish – we are coming after you and you will pay the price.”
Coming into effect before the end of summer, the increased fines are aimed to enable local authorities to hand out harsher penalties and deter would-be criminals.
Councils will still have the say in the level of fine that is issued and how they choose to reflect the severity of the offence.
The news has welcomed by many in the sector. Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, CEO of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Big fines for what is a big problem is progress.
“We hope this makes those people who deliberately litter or dump their unwanted stuff on our streets, in our green spaces and our countryside stop and think.”
Announced yesterday (15 July 2026), the change forms part of the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan which was released in March this year.
The plan sets out what ministers describe as a “zero-tolerance” approach to illegal dumping across England, aiming to tackle illegal activity at its source, close regulatory loopholes, and strengthen the ability of enforcement bodies to intervene earlier.
It included an additional £45 million in funding for the Environment Agency (EA) and a commitment to clean up three infamous large-scale waste dumping sites.
Additionally, it included tightened rules so that fly-tippers risk losing their vehicle licences.
The government is also set to launch Digital Waste Tracking in October 2026 which will bring more transparency and visibility to the movement of waste.
If you see fly-tipping or suspect illegal waste activity, report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Interested in learning more about Digital Waste Tracking and the government’s approach to waste crime? Join us at:
- The Digital Waste Tracking Conference in London on 20 October 2026. Find out more and buy tickets here.
- The Waste Crime Conference in London on 3 November 2026. Find out more and buy tickets here.
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