Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Earl of Courtown on 8 March (HL Deb, col 1357), whether they will give further consideration to providing compensation to landowners in relation to large-scale commercial dumping of waste on private land.

The Government is not currently considering providing compensation to landowners in relation to large-scale commercial dumping of waste on private land.

Fly-tipping is unacceptable whether it occurs on public or private land. However, fly-tipping on private land is a difficult issue. Local authorities are not under any legal obligation to clear fly-tipped waste from private property, so this responsibility falls to the landowner. Some authorities may offer a clearance service but they are likely to charge for this. If, following an investigation, a conviction is secured then the court can award compensation which covers the costs of clearance of waste to the landowner.