Bulky waste
Due to resource issues, we cannot take bulky waste phone calls today. The phone line will be open again at 9:30am on 22 April. We apologise for any inconvenience.
What to do if you get an environmental fixed penalty notice
It’s illegal to litter our streets and open spaces. If we catch someone dropping litter, flyering without a permit or not clearing up dog mess, we'll issue a fine, also known as a fixed penalty notice (FPN).
About fixed penalty notices
A fixed penalty notice (FPN) is a fine issued instead of prosecution in court. If you receive one and don't pay it, you'll be prosecuted and may have to pay a bigger fine as well as court costs.
Issuing fines
To find out why we issue fines, the standards we apply and how we enforce keeping the city's streets clean, go to our Environmental enforcement framework.
Receiving a fine
Under the law, our environmental enforcement officers have the power to ask for and take personal details from people known to have committed an offence. They can also issue fines there and then, but never ask for, take or accept money.
If caught, you must give your full name and address to the enforcement officer. Officers check identity using an electronic identification system.
It’s a criminal offence to refuse to give personal details under Section 8(a) of the Environmental Protection Act. The maximum penalty for not providing this information is £1,000 and a criminal conviction.
If you are given a fine, pay your environmental fixed penalty notice online.
If you rectify the offence after receiving a fine, such as removing the flytip from a bin, the offence has still been committed and you still need to pay the fine.
Failure to pay a fine
If an FPN isn't paid, the case will progress to the local Magistrate's Court. The maximum penalty on conviction is £2,500, a criminal conviction and associated costs.
Challenging a fine
If you have received a fine and have information and evidence that the offence hasn’t been committed or that you did not commit the offence, you can submit a challenge to the fine.
The information and evidence you provide are the equivalent of what is required during an interview under caution. It will be used in accordance with the:
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
- relevant associated Codes of Practice
If you have the information and evidence to challenge a fine, read more about challenging your fine or challenge your fine online.
Rectifying the offence after receiving a fine will not be considered as evidence.
How we use your details
We keep records of:
- all fines, from when we issue them until the case is closed
- evidence, if the case has to go to court
Read our FPN privacy notice for environmental offences for information on how we store and process personal information.
Our environmental enforcement officers
Environmental enforcement officers wear blue jackets, black trousers and body cameras. Like the police, our officers use body cameras to gather evidence and identify offenders.
They also wear body cameras to protect themselves and the public.
We issue fines under central government guidelines for issuing FPNs. Officers aren't paid incentives or commissions for issuing fines and do not have targets.
This service is run at no cost to local taxpayers. It's funded by the fines. Under government guidelines, we aren't allowed to use enforcement to generate revenue. If there's extra money from collecting fines, it's re-invested into improving rubbish and recycling services.
Our legal powers
We issue fines under the following legislation:
- the Environmental Protection Act 1990
- the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Environment Act 2005
- the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003
- the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policy Act 2014
- the Road Traffic Act 1988
- the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty (England) Regulations 2002
- the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) (England) Regulations 2007
Officers can legally go into commercial properties to deal with offences under these acts.
Seized vehicles
The council can seize vehicles that have been involved in environmental offences. You can claim a seized vehicle by following the process explained in the seizure notice.