Local authority recorded fly-tipping: April 2023 to March 2024

• 42,171 fly-tipping incidents were reported in Wales. This is 6% more than the previous year, and 20% more than 2018-19, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 
• Annual change in the number of fly-tipping incidents varied across Wales. 10 local authorities reported a decrease, and 12 local authorities reported an increase.
• The largest annual increases were seen in Gwynedd (95%), Isle of Anglesey (55%) and Denbighshire (46%). According to the local authorities, this was partly due to improved reporting mechanisms. 
• The largest annual decreases in fly-tipping incidents were seen in Ceredigion (65%), Vale of Glamorgan (52%), Neath Port Talbot and Powys (both 26%).
• 71% of incidents involved household waste (black bag or other household waste). 
• Fly-tipping clearance in Wales was estimated to cost £1.94 million. ^{[footnote 1]}
• 25,454 enforcement actions were taken in Wales. This is 7% fewer than the previous year. ^{[footnote 2]}
• Of the 102 prosecution outcomes, 69% resulted in a fine.

Care should be taken when interpreting these figures due to: 

• ongoing changes and improvements in data reporting mechanisms and associated guidance
• impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear which effects are short term and which are longer term, making comparisons between years difficult

Further information can be found in the quality report. 

[1] Estimated clearance costs are based on the number of incidents broken down by size. This information is not recorded for all incidents. In 2023-24, size information was provided for 93% of incidents. 

[2] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many legal cases were delayed, leading to a large increase in reported enforcement actions in 2021-22. A decline in enforcement actions in 2022-23 and 2023-24 is therefore expected.

The statistics are based on the returns made by local authorities to the Waste Data Flow database. Although some are recorded, the statistics do not cover all fly-tipping incidents on private land, and not all incidents of fly-tipping will be reported to the local authority.

Statistician: Stuart Neil
Email: stats.environment@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099