Fly-tipping negatively impacts the railway and wildlife 鈥� but many people don鈥檛 realise it鈥檚 also a crime.
Nearly a quarter of Brits don鈥檛 know fly-tipping is a crime you can be fined or prosecuted for, according to research we carried out for Global Recycling Day.
In fact, only 54% of Gen Z know this compared with 82% of Gen Xers and 92% of Boomers. Fly-tipping is classified as a form of railway vandalism 鈥� just like cable theft and graffiti.
And we鈥檙e highlighting the impact of fly-tipping on the railway by unveiling a stark installation at London King鈥檚 Cross station. The structure is made from items most commonly fly-tipped including white goods, mattresses and electrical items.
Journey delays
Our research also found over half of people don鈥檛 realise fly-tipping causes train delays. It can have a knock-on effect on your trains as we repair any damage. For example, waste can attract rats that chew on cables 鈥� leading to signal failures and even accidents. Metal cans and foil may cause short circuits in the railway鈥檚 signalling system.
We work hard throughout the year cleaning up after fly-tippers. It鈥檚 essential to maintain a reliable and efficient railway. And we work closely with British Transport Police to investigate and prosecute or fine people who commit fly-tipping.
We also have a range of preventative measures in place. These include CCTV to monitor sites and fencing at fly-tipping hotspots and 鈥榥obblers鈥�, which puncture tyres inside and outside access gates to railway land.
Reporting fly-tippers
Fly-tipping is a source of pollution, a potential danger to public health and a hazard to wildlife. Still, our research shows one in five people don鈥檛 believe fly-tipping has a negative impact on the environment.
Over the last four years we鈥檝e received nearly 4,000 reports of fly-tipping on the railway, with a 3.5% increase in 2023 to 2024 compared with 2022 to 2023. But more needs to be done to encourage people to report incidents.
One in five people have witnessed someone fly-tipping and quarter have witnessed fly-tipped waste on or near a railway. Yet only a third of people who鈥檝e spotted it said they reported someone fly-tipping waste to an authority such as the local council, Crimestoppers or a transport authority.
Jo Lewington, a chief environment and sustainability officer at 51爆料, said: 鈥淔ly-tipping wreaks havoc on our railways and environment, stopping passengers getting where they need to be on time and wrecking wildlife habitats.
鈥�51爆料 works closely with local authorities to prevent this crime and prosecute those responsible. If you see someone fly-tipping, it鈥檚 imperative you report this to your local council, Crimestoppers or the British Transport Police 鈥� by working together we can help protect the environment and limit the impact of this selfish act.鈥�
Chief Inspector Adam Swallow at British Transport Police said: “Fly-tipping is a criminal and selfish act which can cause delays to the railway network and harm the environment. The repercussions of fly tipping are serious, with those caught facing significant fines or even jail time.
鈥淚 would urge anyone who sees this callous behaviour to report it so we can safeguard our railways and our wildlife by calling 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016.鈥�
You can find out more about the work we鈥檙e doing to tackle fly-tipping on the railway at: /running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/litter-and-fly-tipping/
