Public Protection receives a large number of complaints each year concerning accumulations of rubbish. The removal of such rubbish is dealt with by differet departments within the Council.

Rubbish on the highway, verges and other public land

Cleansing and Waste deal with rubbish left on the public highway or other open land. This is often called Flytipping. For more information on what Cleansing and Waste do about flytipping, go to Cleansing and Waste website.

Household rubbish on private land

Public Protection can deal with accumulations of rubbish on private land if the waste material is providing shelter for rats or mice, or consists of noxious, decomposing matter, such as food waste. Often this type of rubbish will pose a risk to public health and needs to be removed quickly.

In these cases it is the owner or occupier of the land who is responsible for removing of any rubbish.  On receipt of a complaint Public Protection officers will visit the land and try to work together with the owner or occupier to get the rubbish removed. However if this is not sucessful, a formal notice can be served under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or the Public Health Act 1936 on the owner or occupier of the land requiring them to remove the rubbish within a certain period of time.

If they do not comply, arrangements will be made for its removal and the costs incurred will be recovered from the person on whom the notice is served.

Untidy Sites

Public Protection also deals with untidy sites. These are properties where anything from broken sofas and beds to builder’s rubble has been allowed to accumulate in the garden or around the property.  Untidy sites are rarely dangerous to public health but they will be an eyesore, which means it is detrimental to the local amenity. 

From a community point of view, tidy gardens and land mean an area looks well cared for making people feel safe in that neighbourhood.  If untidy sites are left, they became worse and the area starts to feel neglected and unsafe.

In these cases it is the land owner’s responsibility to maintain any land or buildings in their possession.

Where accumulations of rubbish build up on private land and the land owner does nothing about it, Public Protection officers will make contact and try to work with the land owner first to resolve the situation but if this fails, we will serve notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to force the landowner to clear the land.  This would mean that the landowner could be fined and have a criminal record.

To report accumulations of rubbish on private land or untidy sites contact us using the details on the right.