Swindon Borough Council has increased its maximum fixed penalty notice from £400 to £5,000 for the most serious offences, following changes to Government regulations.
The crackdown follows more than 2,000 reports of illegally dumped rubbish across the borough since the beginning of 2026.
New regulations introduced in September allow local authorities to issue fines of up to £5,000 for fly-tipping, compared with the previous national limit of £1,000.
The council hopes the increased penalties will deter offenders and reduce the cost of clearing dumped waste from streets, parks and other public spaces.
Since January, the council’s Enviro Crime team has issued 49 fines at the previous £400 rate, totalling £19,600.
Officers are continuing to investigate reports, gather evidence and identify those responsible for illegally disposing of waste.
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.”
Residents are being encouraged to report fly-tipping incidents to help enforcement officers identify offenders and take action.
The council has also reminded households that they are legally responsible for ensuring their rubbish is disposed of properly.
Anyone paying someone to remove waste should check that the individual or business is a registered waste carrier.
Residents who fail to carry out the necessary checks could be held responsible if their rubbish is later found dumped illegally.
Fly-tipping can be reported through the council’s website at www.swindon.gov.uk.
