With fly-tipping in England at its highest level on record, Bristol’s B’s Waste Removal is urging householders to check who they hand their rubbish to, because when dumped waste is traced back to its owner, it’s the homeowner who can face the fine.
BRISTOL, UK. October 8th, 2026 – Bristol householders who pay a “man with a van” to take away their rubbish could be hit with a £600 fine if that waste ends up dumped, a local waste removal company has warned, as new government figures show fly-tipping in England has reached a record high.
Councils in England dealt with 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents between April 2024 and March 2025, up 9% on the year before, according to Defra’s latest official statistics. Household waste made up 62% of those cases. The most common size was a “small van load”, which is roughly what a typical rogue collector picks up from a single house.
B’s Waste Removal, a licensed waste carrier serving Bristol and the surrounding towns, says many residents don’t realise the law makes them responsible for their own rubbish after it leaves the property. Under the household waste duty of care, councils can issue a fixed penalty of £600 to a homeowner whose waste was taken away by an unregistered carrier and later fly-tipped.
“Most people we speak to have no idea the fine can land on them,” said Raheem, Director at B’s Waste Removal. “They see an advert on social media offering to clear a garage for forty quid, cash, no questions asked. It feels like a bargain. Then the rubbish turns up in a country lane with their old post still in the bags, and the council knocks on their door, not the bloke with the van.”
The 30-second check
The company is encouraging Bristol residents to follow three simple steps before booking any rubbish collection:
1. Ask for the waste carrier registration number. Every business that moves waste for payment must be registered with the Environment Agency. A legitimate firm will hand the number over without hesitation.
2. Check it on the public register. The Environment Agency’s register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers is free to search online and takes about 30 seconds.
3. Get a waste transfer note or receipt. It should say what was taken, by whom, and where it’s going. Keep it.
“If a firm gets cagey when you ask for their licence number, that tells you everything,” Raheem added. “A proper operator expects the question. We’d rather people asked every company, us included, than gamble with a £600 fine and their name on a fly-tipping file.”
Why it matters in Bristol
Fly-tipping costs councils millions in clear-up every year. Defra figures show “tipper lorry-load” dumps alone rose 11% last year, with large incidents costing English councils £19.3 million to clear. Councils issued 69,000 fixed penalty notices in 2024/25, up 9%, which suggests enforcement is tightening too.
B’s Waste Removal says demand for clearances in Bristol is driven by its large rental market, frequent end-of-tenancy turnovers and an older housing stock with lofts, cellars and garages that fill up over decades. Those are also the jobs most often targeted by unlicensed collectors.
“Getting rid of rubbish properly doesn’t have to cost a fortune,” said Raheem. “Reusable furniture can go to local charities, metals and electricals can be recycled, and only what’s left needs paid disposal. Do it right and it’s often cheaper than people expect, and there’s no risk of a letter from the council a month later.”
Residents who find fly-tipped waste can report it to Bristol City Council online.
ENDS
