UK plans licence points for fly-tippers
Mar 14th 2026
The government is proposing that drivers found fly-tipping could receive penalty points on their licences as part of a wider plan to tackle waste crime across England, Scotland and Wales.
- Drivers caught fly-tipping could receive penalty points on their driving licences under the proposals.
- Points could lead to disqualification if a driver accumulates 12 or more within three years.
- The measures are part of Defra's Waste Crime Action Plan to strengthen local authority powers in England, Scotland and Wales.
- Councils in England recorded 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents in 2024 to 2025, with 62% involving household waste.
- The Environmental Services Association estimates the annual cleanup cost to the economy at about £1 billion in England.
- Fly-tipping is already a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, with existing penalties including fines and imprisonment.