Yes, fly-tipping is a criminal offense. The act of fly-tipping is illegal and prohibited under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) in the UK, which covers England and Wales. The legislation makes it an offence to deposit, dispose of, or leave controlled waste on land, whether the land is in the open air or not, without a permit or licence. The act of fly-tipping can be punished with fines or imprisonment.
Additionally, the Fly-tipping Act 2003 (FT Act) provides a range of powers to local authorities to take action against fly-tippers, such as issuing fixed penalty notices, and seizing and disposing of waste and vehicles used in fly-tipping.
The consequences of fly-tipping can be severe, with fines of up to £50,000 or an unlimited fine for a conviction in a magistrates’ court, or up to five years imprisonment on conviction in a Crown Court.
It’s important to note that fly-tipping is not only a criminal offense but also a serious environmental crime, which can damage the environment, create health hazards and can be costly to clean up.