Fly Tipping IS a crime!

New research has revealed nearly a quarter of Brits do not know that fly tipping is a crime.

The number comes from a Network Rail study commissioned for Global Recycling Day (18th March), which further revealed that over half the population (55%) does not realise fly tipping can cause transport delays.

Alongside cable theft and graffiti, fly-tipping is considered a form of vandalism. On both the railways and in local areas, illegal dumping can be punished with a heavy fine or prison sentence.

Network Rail warned that dumped waste can attract rats that chew on cables, leading to signal failures, and that metal cans and foil can cause short circuits in the railway’s signaling system.

The research also showed huge differences of awareness across age groups – with young people up to four times more likely to believe that fly tipping doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment than their older counterparts.

Paul Langley, Network Rail’s head of security, crime and resilience, said: “Not only is fly tipping a source of pollution, a potential danger to public health and hazard to wildlife, it also affects the operational running of the railway.

“We’re committed to running a safe, reliable and efficient railway and we work extremely hard throughout the year cleaning up after fly tippers.”

In 2023, Tameside Council launched a Fly Tipping Enforcement Unit to deal with incidents of fly tipping and illegal dumping in the borough.

The unit was launched after 4,102 fly tipping incidents were reported in the area in 2022. Two years later, the number of incidents recorded in Tameside was 2,905.

Jo Lewington, Network Rail’s chief environment and sustainability officer, said: “Fly tipping wreaks havoc on our railways and environment, stopping passengers getting where they need to be on time and wrecking wildlife habitats.

"If you see someone fly tipping, it’s imperative you report this to your local council - by working together we can help protect the environment and limit the impact of this selfish act.”

Details on where to report fly tipping is available on the Tameside Council website.