The Welsh Government has announced funding for 150 new surveillance cameras to deter fly-tipping.
Fly-tipping Action Wales, a Welsh Government-sponsored partnership coordinated by Natural Resources Wales, will provide local authorities with 150 new trail cameras to monitor fly-tipping hotspots.
Since 2022, the Welsh Government has provided £1.6m to the Fly-tipping Action Wales programme, which works in partnership with local authorities to tackle the issue.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, commented: “We are determined to clean up our communities, and these new cameras will help us do just that.”
“Our continued funding makes sure local authorities have access to enforcement expertise, surveillance equipment and legal support they need to catch and punish those who break the law.”
There were 42,171 fly-tipping incidents reported in Wales between April 2023 and March 2024, with 71% involving household waste.
The Welsh Government is also reviewing fixed penalty notice limits for fly-tipping and household waste duty of care offences.
Currently, the maximum fixed penalty for fly-tipping in Wales is £400, while for household waste duty of care offences, the limit is £300. In England, the maximum fixed penalty for fly-tipping is £1000.
The Deputy First Minister continued: “We have listened to local authorities who want stronger tools to tackle this problem, and we will consider whether current penalty levels are sufficient to deter would-be offenders.”
The Welsh Government has also awarded grants to Denbighshire, Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire councils for fly-tipping enforcement and camera-based projects.
