The Government should review landfill tax and its impact on fly-tipping, cut disposal costs for households and small businesses, and fund stronger enforcement. It should support councils with clean up resources, improve access to legal waste sites, and run public awareness campaigns.

In our view, since the landfill tax was introduced, incidents of fly-tipping have risen regularly. Legal waste disposal costs have increased sharply, pressuring households and small businesses. As fees climb, some dump waste illegally, harming the environment and leaving councils and taxpayers to cover clean up. This blights communities, damages wildlife habitats and burdens public finances. We believe that stronger enforcement for those who illegally fly-tip, fairer pricing and better public awareness are needed to reverse the trend.