Frequently asked questions

Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence in the UK with significant penalties. As of 2025, councils can issue fixed penalty notices of up to £1,000 for fly-tipping offences. If prosecuted in a Magistrates’ Court, fines can reach up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment. For severe cases heard in Crown Court, penalties include unlimited fines and up to 5 years imprisonment. Importantly, if you hire an unlicensed waste carrier who then fly-tips your waste, you could face a fine of up to £600 for breaching your household duty of care. Always use a licensed waste removal service like Tip Tidy to protect yourself.

All waste removal companies in the UK must be registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier. You can verify any company’s licence by visiting the Environment Agency’s Public Register at environment.data.gov.uk and searching by company name or registration number. A legitimate waste carrier should be able to provide their registration number upon request. Always ask for a waste transfer note as proof your waste will be disposed of legally. At Tip Tidy, we’re fully licensed and happy to provide our registration details.

No, you don’t need a skip permit if the skip is placed entirely on private land such as your driveway or garden. However, if the skip needs to be placed on a public road, pavement, or highway, a skip licence is required from your local council. Permit fees typically range from £20 to £100 and last 7-14 days depending on your local authority. The skip must also display safety markings and lights if left overnight. Most skip hire companies can arrange the permit on your behalf. Alternatively, our man and van rubbish removal service eliminates the need for permits entirely as we load and remove your waste on the same visit.

Hazardous household waste includes items that can harm human health or the environment if not disposed of correctly. Common examples include: batteries (all types), oil-based paints and varnishes, white spirit and paint stripper, pesticides and weed killers, motor oil, antifreeze and brake fluid, fluorescent tubes and energy-saving bulbs, asbestos, and gas cylinders. These items must never be placed in your regular household bin or poured down drains. Most can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), though some councils offer special collection services. Asbestos requires specialist disposal and should only be handled by licensed contractors. Contact your local council for specific guidance on hazardous waste disposal in your area.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, all householders have a legal duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of correctly. This means you must take reasonable steps to ensure your waste is only given to authorised persons such as your local council, a licensed waste carrier, or a registered recycling centre. If you hire a tradesperson, gardener, or waste removal company who then fly-tips your waste, you can still be held liable and face a fixed penalty notice of up to £600. To protect yourself: always check waste carriers are registered with the Environment Agency, obtain a waste transfer note or receipt as proof, avoid cash-only deals with no paperwork, and be suspicious of prices that seem too good to be true. Your waste remains your legal responsibility until it has been properly disposed of.

At Tip Tidy, we’re committed to minimising environmental impact by maximising recycling. We aim to recycle or responsibly reuse as much waste as possible, diverting it from landfill. All collected waste is taken to licensed waste transfer stations where materials are sorted. Metals, wood, cardboard, plastics, textiles, and electrical items are separated for recycling. Items in good condition may be donated to local charities or reuse schemes. Mattresses and furniture are sent to specialist recyclers who recover materials like steel springs and foam. We provide waste transfer documentation with every collection so you have full transparency about where your waste goes. By choosing a responsible waste removal company, you’re helping reduce the estimated 7 million mattresses and countless other items that end up in UK landfills each year.