In the recent Welsh Government report on Fly-Tipping incidences across Wales during April 2024 and March 2025, Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council is highlighted as one of the lead authorities to take action!
Out of 69 court prosecutions across Wales, 18 were carried out in RCT because of the work of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Enforcement Officers! If you fly-tip in this County Borough, they will leave no stone unturned and will always take court action when necessary!
The shocking estimated clean-up figure for Wales, is almost £2M per year and highlights why Local Authorities must take fly-tipping seriously and hold those responsible accountable!
The Enforcement team are regularly patrolling, streets, trails and mountains ready to catch fly-tippers red handed and they have the power to issue a minimum £400 fine. Anyone caught Fly-Tipping may also be referred to the Court for them to take further action, that could see the offender walk away with a criminal record, 6-month prison sentence and/or an unlimited FINE. The decision on the fine amount and sentence remains with the court.
In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the clean-up cost equated to over £150,000 and the most fly-tipped items were household items (2,300) and white goods (204). Most of these could have been taken for FREE to one of the many Community Recycling Centres in Rhondda Cynon Taf to be recycled or re-used.
The Council's dedicated Streetcare Enforcement Officers dealt with and investigated over 4,020 incidences of fly-tipping in RCT. They recovered over £16,300 by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and over £11,600 via court action – a combined total of almost £30,000!
In addition to this ONE person narrowly escaped prison and was issued a 12-month suspended sentence, TWO were given community orders for 12 months with 100 hours of unpaid work and another ONE was given a community order for 12 months and 80 hours unpaid work.
Even though this is good news, hundreds of thousands of pounds are needed to clean up after fly-tippers lazy and disgraceful actions, which blight our beautiful countryside, roads and public spaces. These funds should be used to increase and improve services for residents.
Section 33(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets out the offence of fly-tipping as the "illegal deposit of any waste onto land that does not have a licence to accept it". Anyone illegally disposing of their waste could face a hefty fine and or a criminal record!
The Council has a weekly, unlimited, kerbside dry, food waste and nappy recycling service and many community recycling centres across the County Borough. There's no excuse for fly-tipping, especially items that can be collected at the kerbside or recycled right here in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Cabinet Member for Environmental Services said:
"I'm pleased to see the hard work and dedication of the Council's Enforcement team highlighted. This should be a clear reminder that we will take court action when needed – well done to the team!
"This behaviour will not be tolerated in RCT. There is NEVER an excuse to blight our towns, streets and villages with waste, and we will find those responsible and hold them to account.
"Removal of fly-tipping in our County Borough costs hundreds of thousands of pounds, which is not covered by the costs we recover. This money could and should be spent on key front-line services.
"When an individual fly-tips, it has a knock-on effect, not just on the way our County Borough looks, but also on the services diverted to clear it.
"The lazy actions of the minority ultimately affect us all. That is why we will continue to use ALL the powers available to us to hold those accountable for their actions. Many recovered items could have been taken to a Community Recycling Centre or collected from the kerbside at no extra cost."
To report fly-tipping, please visit: www.rctcbc.gov.uk/reportit.
We all have a duty of care to control our waste and ensure it is disposed of legally. Please remember that if you give your waste to someone who later illegally fly-tips it, you could face a minimum £300 fine. You can check if a person or business has a waste carriers licence at National Resources Wales.
For more information on Recycling and Community Recycling Centres in RCT follow the Council on Facebook/Twitter or visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/recycling
Posted on 09/03/2026