Wiltshire Council is warning residents across the county to ensure their household waste is disposed of correctly or face significant fines following a new crackdown on illegal dumping. The local authority highlighted its Stop at Source campaign on February 19, 2026, to stop rubbish from being left in rural areas and green spaces.
The council spends more than £250,000 every year tackling fly-tipping, a cost paid for by local taxpayers. To help catch offenders, cameras have been set up at known dumping spots in areas such as Royal Wootton Bassett and Zeals. This technology has recently been used to track and fine individuals from neighbouring areas, including Swindon, who have illegally deposited waste within Wiltshire Council’s jurisdiction.
Residents are being reminded that they must perform three checks when hiring someone to take away their rubbish to fulfill their legal ‘duty of care.’ These include checking for a waste carrier licence, noting down the vehicle registration, and getting an official receipt or waste transfer note for the work.
If household waste is found dumped illegally and the owner cannot prove they performed these checks, they may be issued a £600 fixed penalty notice. Those caught actually dumping the waste themselves face a higher fine of £1,000. These rules are intended to stop rogue collectors who advertise cheap waste removal on social media but dump items in the countryside to avoid commercial disposal fees.
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