Local authority recorded fly-tipping: April 2017 to March 2018

Care should be taken when interpreting these figures due to changes and improvements in data reporting mechanisms and associated guidance (see Quality report).

Main points

• During 2017-18, local authorities in Wales reported 35,434 fly-tipping incidents, representing an annual decrease of around 3,200 incidents (8%). This compares with an annual increase of 6% in the number of incidents between 2015-16 and 2016-17. Previously, the number of incidents had consistently fallen from a peak of nearly 62,000 incidents in 2007-08 to around 31,700 in 2014-15. Care should be taken when interpreting these figures as changes are due to improvements in data reporting mechanisms and guidance as well as new initiatives. For example, the recent annual decrease is partly due to changes in reporting procedures in one local authority. (1)
• The annual change in the number of incidents at local authority level varied, with the highest percentage increases in Carmarthenshire (70%) and Powys (42%).  The increases are due to improved recording of incidents, as well as the introduction of new systems and initiatives. The largest percentage decreases were in Swansea (52%)(1) and Vale of Glamorgan (47%).
• The number of fly-tipping incidents on highway land (public highways or roads) decreased to just over 19,000 incidents. The majority of reported incidents (54%) occurred on this type of land during 2017-18.
• The proportion of fly-tipping incidents involving household waste decreased to 68% in 2017-18, down from 70% in 2016-17.
• Estimated fly-tipping clearance costs decreased to £1.9 million in 2017-18, falling from £2.2 million a year earlier.
• During 2017-18, 35,136 enforcement actions were taken in Wales; a decrease on the 37,594 taken in 2016-17.  Of those where local authorities carried out prosecutions, 81% resulted in a fine.

(1) Following clarification of guidance documentation on fly tipping in 2017, side waste, excess waste placed next to a bin, are no longer reported as fly tipping incidents.