IMPORTANT: if you are reporting a fly tip that includes upholstered furniture

Please read this first if you want to report a fly tip that includes any upholstered furniture.

Our fly tip clearance service

Where practical we will clear fly tips within three working days. To report a fly tip please use our online form by clicking the link in 'Forms' above, or telephone 01372 732000.

What is fly tipping?

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. It is anti-social and can cause pollution of the environment and is a physical danger to animals and humans and spoils the local neighbourhoods and our quality of life.

Waste that is fly-tipped comes in various types such as: garden refuse and green waste; rubbish; large domestic items, washing machines, fridges, sofas and mattresses; furniture; tyres, asbestos and clinical waste. Large fly tips of waste from construction, demolition, excavation and property renovation activities, which can at times block the highway, prove a serious hazard to the safety of road users, together with the pollution to the environment and animals.

The type of fly tip and size of it can vary dramatically from a single bag of rubbish to large quantities of waste which are dumped from trucks whilst driving along the road. Waste is found fly tipped in various types of locations such as: verges beside the road, in lay-bys, on the public highway, on private land and even beside the provided bins at recycling sites.

Private land

Fly tipped waste on private land is the responsibility of the land owner, who will need to arrange for its disposal.

Public Highway

Waste that is fly tipped solely on a public highway is the responsibility of Surrey County Council. If the fly tip is blocking a road, please notify Surrey County Council Highways Department urgently on 0300 200 1003.

Alternatively, you can use FixMyStreet.com to report a variety of street related problems in your area. Locate the exact area on a map and upload photos. This information will be passed on to appropriate local authority.

Duty of care for householders

Every householder has a duty of care to ensure that they have taken reasonable steps to dispose of waste in accordance with the law. You are required by law to ensure that you are handing over your waste to a person or company who is authorised and licenced with a waste carriers licence to transport and dispose of it safely. There are some exceptions to the requirement of a licence, such as charities etc.

The person taking away your waste must also keep a record of this, a waste transfer note, held for two years. Handing over your waste without asking questions may lead to your waste being fly tipped and you being partly responsible and therefore liable to enforcement action being taken against you.

Large, bulky items of waste can also be collected from your property by our bulky waste collection service.

Witnessing fly tipping

If you witness fly tipping or discover a fly tip, any information you give may help the investigation and lead to a prosecution of the offender. It would be useful if you could record the details and report it immediately. Please do not put yourself at risk.

• Colour, make and registration number of vehicle
• Any signwriting or distinctive marks on the vehicle
• Time and date
• Number of people and a description of them and their clothing especially if distinctive
• Anything heard which may help identify them, names, etc.
• What has been fly tipped?
• Is it tipped on the public highway, footpath or carriageway?

Do not:

• Touch the waste as it may contain syringes, asbestos or hazardous substances
• Disturb the site, as there may be evidence that could help identify the fly-tippers
• Approach anyone you see fly tipping.

All information is valuable to us and will be treated confidentially. If you have photos of the fly tip please inform us.