Local authority recorded fly-tipping: April 2024 to March 2025

The statistics are based on the returns made by local authorities to the WasteDataFlow database, managed by NRW. Although some are recorded, the statistics do not cover all fly-tipping incidents on private land, and not all incidents of fly-tipping will be reported to the local authority. Year‑on‑year trends may fluctuate, partly due to variations in reporting practices.

See the quality report for further information.

• 48,367 fly-tipping incidents were reported in Wales between 2024 and 2025, 15% more than the previous year.
• 18 local authorities reported an increase in the number of incidents between 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025, and 4 local authorities reported a decrease.
• The largest annual increase in reported fly-tipping incidents was in Denbighshire (230%); largely due to improvements in data collection allowing them to capture more fly-tipping incidents.
• Other large annual increases in fly-tipping incidents were reported in Vale of Glamorgan (100%), Merthyr Tydfil (68%) and Caerphilly (63%).
• The largest annual decreases in reported fly-tipping incidents were seen in Gwynedd (22%), Bridgend (11%), and Newport (10%).
• 71% of incidents involved household waste (black bag or other household waste), similar to previous years.
• 27,749 enforcement actions were taken in Wales 9% more than the previous year.
• Of the 27,749 enforcement actions, 22,924 were investigations (83%).
• Of the 70 prosecution outcomes, 80% resulted in a fine.

For historical timeseries and breakdowns of incidents by type, land, size, actions and prosecution outcomes, please go to StatsWales. 

Revisions have been made to some historic data. These don’t affect the main results. See the quality report for further information.

Care should be taken when interpreting these figures due to ongoing changes and improvements in data reporting mechanisms and guidance, which may vary between local authorities. 

Further information can be found in the quality report.

Clearance costs

The average clearance costs for fly-tipping incidents of all sizes other than tipper lorry load and significant / multi loads are no longer published. Historically, these costs were calculated using a model developed in 2003, based on data provided by a selection of local authorities. While this approach served its purpose at the time, the model no longer reflects the true costs of fly-tipping clearance today.

Rural Affairs and Environment Statistics
Email: stats.environment@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099