Warning issued to residents over fly-tipping fines

Calderdale Council handled the lowest number of fly-tipping incidents across Yorkshire, according to newly released figures.

Data published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs shows the authority dealt with 1,139 cases between April 2024 and March 2025.

Bradford recorded the highest amount, with 19,697 cases, while there were 13,923 in Leeds and 13,663 in Hull.

Despite the low number the council said it had spent more than £1m cleaning up fly-tipped waste last year and has warned people that not only can they be fined for dumping rubbish themselves, but also if their rubbish is dumped illegally by a third party.

Senior Highways Enforcement Officer Sam Pearson said anyone employing another person or company to remove household waste, such as fridges or sofas, must check they have an upper tier waste carriers licence.

"It will probably be cheaper to pay somebody, these kind of rogue traders [as] we describe them, but the longer-term costs and the environmental impact that has, is a much more significant consequence moving forward.

"In terms of your responsibility as a waste producer, as a resident of Calderdale, you have a responsibility to expose the waste appropriately and if you don't we can fine you.

"So, if you don't exercise what's called your duty of care you could be fined as well so you might not have fly-tipped the waste but you can be held responsible".

Fly tipping is a criminal offence that carries a fine of £50,000 or up to five years in prison.

In 2024 Calderdale Council served 20 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNS) for waste offences and seized 8 vehicles suspected to be involved in fly tipping.

Last year, they served 63 (FPNS) and seized 17 vehicles.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.