A recent BBC news story described Newport as the ‘capital’ of flytipping and promoted a version of events from local Conservatives linking the issue partly to a change in the way that household and waste recycling site in Maesglas is used. During COVID an online booking system was introduced replacing the previous turn up and go operation. Following the end of the pandemic it was decided to retain the system. It is argued by some that the prevalence of flytipping is in some way attributable to the booking system. This is highly contentious and can in no way excuse the illegal tipping of waste particularly in our rural areas.
This is not a new issue. In 2006 Sir Terry Matthew’s warned that Newport’s ability to grow and develop would be hindered by issues such as flytipping across the locality, not an issue in his new homeland, Canada, or across Europe. In 2017 Community Councils in Newport called a meeting with the City Council’s Trade Enforcement Manager to discuss ways of dealing with the issue including the use of surveillance. Problems were identified in Rogerstone, Bishton, Nash, Llanwern, Redwick and St.Brides. ‘No flytipping’ signs are often displayed in the areas and regularly feature in community discussions. In 2024 the City Council stated they were committed to a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards flytipping despite 1500 reported instances notified to them in the previous twelve months.
Prosecutions are on the increase, Stewart Evans was handed a 10-year criminal behaviour order and a suspended prison sentence earlier in 2025 following a string of fly-tipping offences. But he breached the order and continued to commit fly-tipping offences across Newport and Monmouthshire and was jailed in November 2025 for 15 months.
In England alone, local authorities recorded well over a million fly-tipping incidents annually in recent years, with household waste making up a major share. Rural areas in Wales such as those in Newport and parts of Scotland also report persistent problems.
Fly-tipping is not uniquely British, but the United Kingdom has a particularly visible and persistent problem with it compared with many comparable countries.
Fly-tipping — the illegal dumping of waste — happens across Europe, North America, and elsewhere. However, several factors make it especially prominent in Britain:
- High population density, especially in urban and semi-rural areas.
- Expensive or inconvenient legal waste disposal for some kinds of rubbish.
- A large market of unlicensed waste carriers offering cheap collection.
- Fragmented local authority enforcement.
- Frequent small-scale dumping (mattresses, sofas, builders’ waste) rather than only large industrial dumping
Thankfully, new reforms are set to tighten the net on waste criminals with tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste, and advanced background checks to help put rogue operators out of business.
As part of the major crackdown on waste criminals, underpinned by the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan laws being laid this week will require waste handlers to prove they are qualified to transport waste.
To find out more about how the City Council deals with flytipping and how to report it go here