The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs published proposals on 20 August 2026 for "clean up squads" intended to make fly-tippers clean up communities and pay clearance costs. Under the plans, councils would gain stronger powers to issue conditional cautions requiring offenders to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work, and to recover clean-up costs directly from offenders so taxpayers are not left to pay.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said those who fly-tip should be the ones cleaning up and paying. The department said the proposals aim to speed enforcement so offenders face justice more quickly without lengthy court proceedings. The measures build on action announced in July to raise the maximum on-the-spot fine for fly-tipping to £5,000, described as a 400% uplift from the previous level of £1,000, and on guidance for councils on identifying and seizing vehicles used in fly-tipping.

The announcement also included a new Tackling Waste Crime Alliance bringing together government, regulators, police, councils and the waste management sector, and a review into raising the level of Fixed Penalty Notices issued by the Environment Agency for waste crime offences. The consultation was scheduled to run for eight weeks, ending at 23:59 on 16 October 2026.