Fly-tippers in Boston to be fined £600 more after councillors vote for huge increase

A fly-tip left in Sydney Street, in Boston. Photo: Lyn Johnson

They have also raised fines for other offences – including littering, graffiti and fly-posting.

Boston brough councillors have unanimously backed a £600 rise in the fixed penalty charge for people fly-tipping to £1,000 – more than double the previous charge of £400.

The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday night, will come into effect from January 1, next year.

Along with the fly-tipping increase measures, offences for household waste duty of care will see fines increased to £600, whilst littering offences will be increased to £250 and graffiti and fly-posting offences will be increased to £300. All these offences previously incurred a £100 fine, but all offer early payment reductions if they are paid within 10 days.

Rubbish dumped in one of the local waterways. Image: Wyberton Wombles

Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services at Boston Borough Council, Callum Butler said: “I am very pleased that the fine levels have been increased to better reflect the effect that this heinous crime has on residents daily lives. Not only does this cost the council to clear up, but has a devastating effect on residents’ health and wellbeing. We are determined to do everything we can to reduce the amount of fly-tipping incidents on the streets of our borough.

“A huge thanks must go to the council Flyswat team who go out day after day to make out streets respectable.

“This decision also supports the aims laid out in the Council’s Corporate Strategy 2020-2024, a place where people want to live, work and visit, and proactively educate and enforce against environmental crime.”

A council spokesperson said: “Any fixed penalty notices not paid within the timeframe given by the issuer will be passed on for court action. This could also lead to a criminal conviction on their records.

"The new Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 which came into force on 31st July 2023, have increased the upper fixed penalty limit for the specified offences. The regulations were introduced as part of the Governments Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan launched earlier this year, supporting councils in tackling environmental crime offences.”

• You can report fly-tipping incidents and other environmental crimes to the council via its website www.boston.gov.uk/report and you can also find out more information about your individual duty of care regarding waste and check a waste carriers licence here.