Rewards of up to £500 for reporting fly-tipping

A rural authority which is blighted by fly-tipping has offered rewards of up to £500 for reports leading to enforcement.

East Hampshire District Council said it recorded 945 fly-tip incidents from April to December 2025.

In September, the authority said it would have to spend more than £18,000 to clear a lay-by of two piles of dumped waste, each over eight feet (2.4m) high.

Several local authorities offer rewards for tip-offs about fly-tips, although the fees can be as little as £100 or £200.

East Hampshire said fly-tipping was a "perpetual problem" in its area, often in remote locations and at night.

Councillor Nick Drew, a cabinet member, said: "It is very disappointing that people come to enjoy the South Downs National Park and the beautiful landscapes that it offers and decide to pollute it with their rubbish.

"Many people I speak to feel more should be done and this reward scheme will help us do that."

September's incident, in Julie's Lay-by on the A31 near Alton, involved 15 tonnes of material including asbestos.

In 2024, the council reported problems with "dumping and burning on the West Sussex/Hampshire border in Rowlands Castle and on the A272".

It said the rewards were for information leading to enforcement action, which can include fixed penalty fines or court prosecutions.

Householders can also be fined if their waste ends up in a fly-tip and they have not checked that the waste carrier was properly authorised.

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