BBC expert warns you could be fined for fly-tipping even if it's not your rubbish

Householders could be hit with a £600 fine even if they've followed the rules, as BBC journalist Louise Minchin revealed a startling fact regarding fly-tipping on BBC's Morning Live. Fly-tipping, the illegal dumping of waste on unlicensed land, is a persistent issue in the UK, with over a million cases reported in England last year alone.

Despite stringent laws against fly-tipping, householders and landowners may find themselves accountable for waste dumped by others due to a technicality. Host Holly Hamilton was astonished: "You can still be responsible even if it's not you who dumped the waste." Louise confirmed: "You don't have to be the one doing the fly-tipping. Absolutely right, there are two different ways actually. You can be held responsible if you're a landowner and something's been dumped on private land, also as a householder as well."

"If you're a landowner and somebody fly-tips on your land, both local authorities and environmental agencies have the legal power to require you to remove that waste. This applies across the UK and failing to clear that waste could see you liable."

Louise continued: "If you're a householder you could be fined £600 for waste you've given to someone who's an unlicensed carrier and ends up being fly-tipped.

"If you are a householder, really be careful about who you trust with your waste. Always do your research."

She advised people to be "really suspicious" if offered waste disposal services and stressed the importance of obtaining paperwork and a receipt. The Gov.uk website can be used to verify if someone is a registered waste carrier.

Louise added: "Fly-tipping is illegal and taken seriously by authorities. Punishments vary across the UK. They can include fixed penalty notices, unlimited fines, vehicle seizure and up to five years in prison depending on the severity of the offence."

The issue came to light following an update on a case from earlier this year, where a massive waste dump blocked access to homes and farms in Staffordshire.

Darren Sheen was in court last Tuesday, facing charges related to the fly-tipping of a 27-tonne pile of waste in Lichfield, which cost the council nearly £10,000 to clear.

The case remains open with no verdict reached, and at the court hearing, no plea was entered. Louise commented: "It's a reminder that fly-tipping is illegal and is taken seriously by authorities."