Council introduces £5,000 fines in crackdown on fly-tipping
More than 2,000 reports of fly-tipping have been made across Swindon since January
Last updated 11th Nov 2026
People caught illegally dumping waste in Swindon could now face fines of up to £5,000.
Swindon Borough Council has introduced tougher penalties following new Government regulations that came into force from September.
It allows local authorities to increase the maximum fixed penalty notice (FPN) for fly-tipping from £1,000 to £5,000.
More than 2,000 reports of fly-tipping have been made across the borough since January 2026.
In that time, the council's Enviro Crime team has issued 49 fines at the previous £400 rate, resulting in penalties worth £19,600 being issued to offenders.
Councillor Kevin Parry, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Recycling and Streetscene, said:
"Since becoming Cabinet Member, I wanted to send a very clear message from day one: if you fly-tip in Swindon, we will come after you and you can expect to pay up to a £5,000 fine.
"Fly-tipping is not a minor inconvenience. It blights neighbourhoods, damages our environment and leaves ordinary taxpayers footing the bill to clear up other people's mess.
"We are taking a firm, common-sense approach that backs our communities, supports law-abiding residents and holds offenders accountable for their actions.
"Our Enviro Crime team is already identifying offenders and issuing fines, and we will continue to use every enforcement tool available to us to keep Swindon's streets, parks and public spaces clean."