Street care and cleaning Fly-tipping

Our strategy

The cleanliness of our county affects everyone who lives, works, or studies in Shropshire.

Shropshire, in common with the rest of the country, has experienced an increase in fly tipping in recent years. In 2023, we received reports of over 1500 reported fly tips, which were collected at a cost of more than £140,000 to the taxpayer.

We clear reported fly tips within five working days. However, if the offence causes an obstruction or is considered by us to be dangerous, it will be cleared sooner. 

Our three key areas

Early intervention

• Encourage civic pride
  
• Raise awareness / education
  
• Improved engagement and stronger partnerships with managing agents, landlords and residents

Prevent re-occurrence

• Continue to remove fly-tips quickly
  
• Ownership and accountability to resolve fly-tip hotspots
  
• Profile types of fly-tippers and specific actions to change this behaviour
  
• Improved data collection
  
• Making fly-tips easier to report

Targeted enforcement

• Intelligence led
  
• Zero tolerance
  
• Toughest penalties
  
• Prioritise hot spot areas
  
• Work with key partners, such as residents, businesses, police and the Environment Agency

Private land

We'll work with private landowners to find solutions, but also remind them that clearing fly tipping from private land is their responsibility. Landowners will be made aware that there are penalties for fly tipping that apply if they allow someone to fly-tip on their land.

SCRAP Code

If you’re hiring someone to take your rubbish away, there are three simple steps to avoid inviting a criminal into your home:

1. Ask for a waste carrier registration number
2. Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers or call 0300 065 3000
3. Check that you'll get a receipt

People can follow the SCRAP code to ensure that their waste is correctly disposed of:

S - suspect all waste carriers; don't let them take your waste unless they can prove that they're legitimate. A legitimate waste carrier should be happy to answer reasonable questions.

C - check their waste carrier’s registration details. These can be verified by checking the Environment Agency website or by calling 03708 506 506. Make a note of the registration details of the vehicle used to remove your waste.

R - refuse unexpected offers to have any rubbish taken away. If you suspect that someone you've spoken to is disposing of waste illegally, report their name and vehicle registration to the Environment Agency.

A - ask what will happen to your rubbish and seek evidence that it will be disposed of appropriately.

P - paperwork should be obtained. Make sure you get a full receipt and waste transfer note for your waste removal. This should give a description of the waste and provide the waste carrier’s licence number and contact details.