Notices and fixed penalty notices can be issued for environmental offences, including fly-tipping, dropping litter and abandoning vehicles.
This page is for you if you have received a notice due to one of the following laws. You can find out more about each environmental crime by clicking the links below:
- Section 34 Environmental Protection Act 1990: householder duty of care and trade waste
- Section 108 Environment Act 1995 – Request for Information/Documentation: householder duty of care, trade waste and fly-tipping
- Section 46 Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Refuse Collection Notice: householder duty of care and trade waste
- Section 47 Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Storage of Commercial Waste: householder duty of care and trade waste
- Community Protection Warning and Community Protection Notice
- Section 71 Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Request for Information: fly-tipping
- Section 5 Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 – Authority to Transport Controlled Waste: fly-tipping
- Section 215 Town and Country Planning Act 1990: untidy land and gardens
- Section 330 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – Information into Interests in Land: untidy land and gardens
- Section 59 Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Removal of Controlled Waste: fly-tipping
- Section 87 Environmental Protection Act 1990: litter
- Section 1 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013: scrap metal collection.
To discuss the notice or FPN you have received, or request a translated copy of the notice, either:
- contact the officer named at the top of the letter
- email environmentalenforcement@medway.gov.uk.
Pay a fine
If you have received a fixed penalty notice (FPN) you can pay it online.
When you reach the payment form, click ‘Fixed penalty ie leaving waste’ to make an FPN payment.
Pay a fixed penalty notice online
Pay a fine to District Enforcement online
Failure to pay will result in further action being taken against you, which may include prosecution in a court of law.
Environmental crimes
Environmental crimes can have a negative impact on the lives of Medway residents and businesses.
Householder duty of care
All residents have a duty of care regarding their waste and must take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is disposed of and managed correctly.
Trade waste
All business owners have a duty of care regarding their waste to ensure that it is disposed of correctly. A business owner must be able to account for the transfer of their waste.
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the dumping of rubbish or unwanted items on land that is not licensed to accept it.
If you think rubbish has been dumped illegally in a public area, then you can report it to us. Find out more about fly-tipping and how to report it.
If the waste you are reporting is in sacks displaying the Medway Norse logo, you can report this to us as 'litter' using our street cleaning form.
Everyone has a legal responsibility to dispose of waste properly. Fly-tipping looks unsightly, can present a hazard to the public, can pollute the land and watercourses, and costs tax-payers significant amounts of money to clear it away. If residents allow goods to be taken away by an unlicensed carrier, they too could be liable for prosecution.
All waste must be dealt with by a registered carrier. If someone claims to be registered but you are unsure, you can check the Register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers.
Scrap metal collection
If you collect or transport scrap within Medway, you must get a scrap metal dealer licence from Medway Council and a waste carrier's licence from the Environment Agency. You will need a separate licence for each local council area you collect in.
If you allow goods to be taken away by an unlicensed carrier, you could also be liable for prosecution.
Litter
The council has a statutory duty to clear litter from land it is responsible for. If the land is private, the council may use legislation to force the landowner to clear away any rubbish and litter. Find out how to report litter in Medway.
Abandoned vehicles
An abandoned vehicle is a detriment to the local street scene and can cause additional nuisance around anti-social behaviour, or cause harm if they are damaged or insecure. Find out how to report vehicles without valid MOTs or that are untaxed on the abandoned vehicles page.
Vehicles without an MOT or tax are not the responsibility of the council and will not automatically mean the vehicle has been abandoned.
Vehicle sales and repairs
It is illegal to sell or repair vehicles on the public highway or other public places without the appropriate council consent. Some mechanics and businesses use the public highway as an extension of their garages and for vehicle sales. This can cause nuisance to local residents, and it takes up valuable car parking spaces.
Vehicles offered for sale on the highway without consent are liable to be seized by Medway Council. We will then begin legal proceedings against the owner for the recovery of costs.
Find out how to:
Untidy land and gardens
You can report untidy land or gardens if they are unsightly as they may attract environmental crimes, such as fly-tipping.
If untidy sites are left, they become worse, and the area starts to feel neglected and unsafe. Untidy sites are rarely dangerous to public health but may have a negative impact on the local area.
You can report an untidy garden if it:
- is visible from a public highway
- is visible from the main living space in your home
- can clearly be seen from your garden.
Find out how to report untidy land and gardens.
Fly-posting
Fly-posters usually advertise events with posters, flyers or stickers that are put up without the permission of the property owner. Fly-posting is a criminal offence. Find out how to report fly-posting.