Temporary cameras are being deployed by West Devon Borough Council at fly-tipping hotspots in the borough to try and catch culprits in the act.

The cameras will be at locations where it’s thought fly-tipping incidents are likely to occur. 

Anyone caught fly tipping could face enforcement action including fixed penalty notices, prosecution and substantial fines.

Waste criminals are facing heftier fines from this summer. New legislation will increase the maximum fine for fly-tipping waste to £5,000 – a 400 per cent uplift from the previous level of £1,000. 

The top fine for littering on  streets will also be increased to £750 – up by 50 per cent.    

West Devon had 339 fly-tipping incidents during 2024/25 including 12 large scale incidents of at least a tipper lorry load of rubbish costing £3,150 or the equivalent of five pence per resident to clear up, according to Defra.

The borough was down at 284th in the list of 317 councils for its level of fly-tipping. In Devon, Plymouth was the worst with a total of 5,370 separate fly-tipping incidents.

The surveillance cameras in West Devon will support the council’s enforcement activity and help identify those responsible for illegally dumping waste. 

Cllr Adam Bridgewater (Ind, Tavistock South East), who leads neighbourhood services on WDBC, said: “Fly-tipping has a real impact on communities across West Devon. It spoils our countryside, threatens wildlife kand costs public money that could be better spent on local services.

“The vast majority of residents dispose of their waste responsibly, but the actions of a small number of people can cause significant damage to the environment and local areas. 

“The increased use of surveillance cameras demonstrates our commitment to tackling environmental crime and holding offenders accountable.

“These cameras will help us gather evidence, identify those responsible, and support enforcement action where necessary.”

He said the council also relied on information from residents: “I would encourage anyone who witnesses fly-tipping or discovers dumped waste to report it. By working together, we can help keep West Devon clean, protect our natural environment, and make our communities places we can all be proud of.”

All surveillance will be deployed in accordance with data protection legislation and footage will only be used for legitimate enforcement purposes.

Household waste can be disposed of responsibly through local recycling centres, authorised waste carriers, or council collection services.

Anyone using a private waste contractor should ensure that they are properly licensed, as householders may still be held responsible if their waste is fly‑tipped, said the council

Before using a private waste contractor, residents are advised to check the following: a valid waste carrier licence number, the vehicle registration number (VRN) of the waste carrier’s vehicle, and a completed waste transfer notice.

To report fly-tipping to to the council’s website at www.westdevon.gov.uk/report-it