A range of measures concerning fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles came into force on 18 October 2005, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which received Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. The first raft of measures came into force in June 2005, and included new powers to deal with litter and nuisance parking. The powers also included fines of up to £50,000 and 5 years in prison for those found guilty of fly-tipping.

The new laws under the 2005 Act give local authorities and the Environment Agency enhanced powers to recover costs from the offenders. The second raft of the Act’s measures mean:
• landowners and occupiers who have had to clear fly-tipped waste can also recover costs
• local authorities have more effective investigatory powers to catch fly-tippers
• local authorities have the power to remove abandoned cars from the streets immediately rather than giving 24 hours notice.

Further information is available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gsi.gov.uk/environment/localenv/leqbill/index.htm.

The text of the Act is available at: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/20050016.htm.

Draft guidance on all the measures listed above was published on 10th October, 2005. The consultation period on the draft guidance runs until 2 January, 2006. See: www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051010d.htm.

Source: www.defra.gov.uk (accessed 11/11/05)

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