Increase to environmental crime fines set to be discussed

Bins, recycling and street cleansing

03 October 2024

Next week’s meeting of North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive will receive an update on proposals to increase fines for a variety of environmental crimes, including up to £1000 for fly-tipping.

Changes to national regulations were introduced by the previous Government in July 2023 and NNC are looking at the best way forward for Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for Environmental Crime Offences.

It is proposed that fines are increased to the new maximum levels - which could see a maximum fine of up to £1000 for fly-tipping, alongside changes to fines for littering, graffiti, fly-posting and household waste duty of care.

Littering, fly-tipping and wider environmental crimes are a blight on communities across the country, as well as closer to home in North Northamptonshire.

With this in mind, as a council we are determined to do all we can to deter fly-tippers and other environmental crimes from occurring. It is important that following the change in national regulations we look carefully at the tools available to us, including Fixed Penalty Notices, which will hopefully make people think twice before committing environmental crimes.
Cllr Matt Binley, the council’s Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets
Our teams have a zero-tolerance approach to environmental crimes and will not hesitate to take enforcement action, where necessary. This includes issuing Fixed Penalty Notices which provide an alternative to other enforcement options and prosecution, but still act as a deterrent. In the case of fly-tipping, we hope that FPNs encourages residents to dispose of waste through legal routes such as our household waste recycling centres or via a licensed carrier.Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council


Any changes to fines would be publicised through North Northamptonshire channels. More information about fly-tipping, including how to report it and how to dispose of waste responsible is available on the NNC website.

The Executive will meet on Thursday 10 October at 10am at the Corby Cube and the papers are now available online. The meeting will be live streamed on the Council’s YouTube channel.