Council increases penalties for littering, fly-tipping and waste offences

Cheshire West and Chester Council is increasing the penalty levels for Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for environmental offences as part of a strengthened approach to tackling littering, fly-tipping and waste crime across the borough.

The changes, agreed by the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhood Pride, and coming into effect on 1 August, are designed to deter environmental crime, protect local communities and reduce the significant costs associated with clearing litter and illegally dumped waste

Under the new arrangements:

• The penalty for a standard littering offence will increase from £120 to £150, with a reduced payment of £90 if paid within seven days.
• A new higher-level littering offence (for more than one item) will be introduced, carrying a £200 penalty, reduced to £150 if paid within seven days.
• The penalty for lower-level fly-tipping offences will increase from £400 to £500, with an early payment option of £300.
• Higher-level fly-tipping offences will carry a penalty of up to £1,000, the maximum allowed by law, reduced to £600 if paid within 14 days.
• The Council will also begin issuing FPNs for breaches of the household waste duty of care, helping to tackle incidents where residents fail to ensure their waste is removed by an authorised waste carrier.

The decision follows a review of current penalty levels and recent changes in legislation which allow councils to impose higher fines for environmental offences.

Fly-tipping and littering continue to have a significant impact on communities and the environment. In 2024, 3,728 fly-tipping incidents were reported across the borough, costing the Council more than £200,000 to clear.

Councillor Stuart Bingham, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhood Pride, said:

“Most people take pride in their neighbourhoods and dispose of their waste responsibly, but a small minority continue to blight our communities through littering and fly-tipping.

“These offences damage the environment, harm wildlife, create eyesores in our neighbourhoods and cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds every year to clear up.

“By increasing the penalties and introducing a more structured approach to enforcement, we are sending a clear message that environmental crime will not be tolerated in Cheshire West and Chester.

“We want residents to enjoy clean, safe and attractive places to live, work and visit, and these changes will support our ongoing efforts to protect our environment and promote neighbourhood pride.”

The updated penalty framework will ensure enforcement remains proportionate by distinguishing between lower level and more serious offences, while continuing to offer reduced penalties for early payment.

The Council will support the changes through a programme of awareness-raising initiatives, including new signage in litter hot-spot locations, environmental awareness campaigns, promotion of enforcement activity and community-focused initiatives under its Love Your Streets programme.

Residents can report fly-tipping and find information about disposing of waste responsibly here: 

Council’s website