Warning over criminal links to waste disposal and fly-tipping

Investigators from a borough council in Kent are warning the public to be more aware of who is disposing of their waste amid concerns about organised criminal gang links to fly-tipping.

Gravesham Borough Council spent £90,000 clearing illegally dumped waste and raised 504 investigations in the financial year to March 2025.

Tim Harris, Gravesham's environmental enforcement manager, said there was evidence of a move towards environmental crime where he said "rewards are high, penalties are lower and there's a massive network involved".

"There's a huge amount of money to be made," he added.

From April 2024 to March 2025 the borough council issued 210 Community Protection Warnings, 124 Fixed Penalty Notices and sent 33 cases to prosecution.

On a patrol with the council's enforcement team, a report came in from a member of the public about fly-tipping in a local nature reserve.

Environmental crime investigator Ashley Collick, sifting through cardboard boxes and a discarded duvet in a woodland layby just outside Chalk, found evidence that he said could lead to a prosecution.

He said boxes included address labels and there was also a named court document.

"There's also discarded medical drugs which can be linked back to the patient," he added.

He said once vehicle and crew were taken into account, the clear up would cost about £200.

He said the the nearest public recycling centre was less than two miles away, or the waste could have been put in a household bin for collection, but instead it had been dumped.

"Someone will now get a knock on the door and could face a fine," he said.

Waste illegally dumped on public land such as beside roads and footpaths is removed by local councils, but when left on private property the landowner must pay for the clean up.

Tenant farmer Robert Shove has had building materials repeatedly dumped on his land at Lillechurch Farm, near Chalk.

This time, the council will take away the large mound of soil and rubble left on an entrance road to his land, but Shove said he previously had to spend £2,000 clearing waste dumped on his field.

"I have my rent to pay so any extra cost is not welcome," he added.

"I feel incensed as it doesn't take a lot of effort to book a slot at your local recycling centre and take your waste there and not risk a fine.

"I can do it and I'm sure anybody else can too if they wish to."

Local councils can issue on-the-spot fines for minor fly-tipping offences, typically ranging between £200 to £400, but if unpaid can lead to prosecution, resulting in much higher fines and potential criminal charges.

However, if a case goes to a magistrates' court, the penalties can reach up to £50,000 and offenders may face 12 months imprisonment.

"It's the brazen nature and the complexity of the crimes that amaze me," Collick said.

He said though it took "a long time to investigate and reach a prosecution" the council was securing convictions, two of which had received the maximum £20,000 fines.

He advised people to be more thorough when checking the credentials of those who take away their waste as they too would be liable if it was not disposed of correctly.

"When waste is illegally dumped on land they too can be prosecuted for not taking due care," he said.

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