Local UK Authorities Encouraged To Seize And Crush Cars & Trucks Used By People Illegally Dumping Trash ("Fly-Tipping") [View all]

Councils will be encouraged to work with police forces to seize and crush vehicles used by fly-tippers, in the latest phase of a government policy blitz before Thursday’s local elections. Under a scheme being led by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), new legislation will impose jail sentences of up to five years for people who illicitly transport waste in England.

Fly-tipping, in which people illegally dump rubbish or debris, often by roadsides, rather than taking it to a proper waste site, is commonly listed by voters as a local concern. Government statistics for England recorded 1.15m incidents in 2023-24, up 6% from a year before.

While councils already have the powers to seize and crush vehicles used in fly-tipping, Defra said administrative hurdles mean this is rarely done, with the bulk of such action last year taking place under just two councils.

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As well as working with councils to make this easier, local authorities will also be able to charge fly-tippers for the cost of seizing and storing any vehicles. Police will be encouraged to help identify vehicles being used with drones and mobile CCTV cameras.

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/29/fly-tippers-vehicles-to-be-crushed-in-bid-to-save-england-from-avalanche-of-rubbish