Victims of fly-tipping on private or unregistered land can apply for funding to clear up the rubbish left behind.

Money is also available to go towards measures to prevent further tips.

Hertfordshire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Ash-Edwards, is making the help available to those whose land has been impacted by the illegal dumping.

Herts PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our environment and often causes substantial cost to innocent people to clear up.

“This fund will help farmers and other landowners clear away fly-tipping and install preventative measures identified by the police’s rural support team."

Landowners and farmers in all local authority areas across the county will be able to apply for financial aid to assist with clean-up operations, including those which happen in urban areas on unregistered land.

In addition to paying for tip clearance, funds are also available to match fund the implementation of target hardening measures which could include the installation of security gates, high-visibility signage, bollards or digging trenches.

A fly-tip in Hertfordshire before being cleared.A fly-tip in Hertfordshire before being cleared. (Image: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire)

The fly-tip area in Hertfordshire after being cleared.The same area in Hertfordshire after being cleared. (Image: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire)

In all fly-tip cases, representatives of the local council or Hertfordshire Constabulary investigate the waste for clues to those responsible and collect any evidence which could be used in a prosecution.

Those organisations or individuals found responsible for fly-tipping face criminal charges and fines.

How to make a claim

Anyone interested in making a claim or finding out more information should contact the Environmental team at their district or borough councils and mention the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fly Tipping on Private Land Fund.

Reporting of the tip and contacts for district or borough council can be found at https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/recycling-and-waste/wasteaware-campaigns/flytipping/report-littering-or-flytipping.aspx

The fund is not applicable for tips on local authority, highways, private parks, estates, crown or residential (private homeowners) land.

For more details see the PCC’s website https://www.hertscommissioner.org/listening-and-responding/funding/fly-tipping-fund/ 

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire hopes the fund will help tackle the scourge of fly-tipping.

Mr Ash-Edwards added: “I am pleased that all ten district and borough councils in Hertfordshire have joined the scheme as they have a critical role to play in the enforcement measures seeking to identify and prosecute fly-tippers.”

To be eligible for the funding, landowners or farmers will have to prove they already have a waste disposal contract, or equivalent, in place with an authorised collection firm.

If landowners or farmers witness fly-tipping taking place on their land, they should report it immediately to the police in the first instance, and then contact the Environmental team at their district or borough council.