Fly-tippers in Scotland face on-the-spot fines of £500 as new regulations come into force this week, more than doubling the previous maximum penalty of £200.

Ministers pledged to increase the penalties in the Scottish Government’s Litter and Flytipping Strategy and Action Plan, which was published in June 2023 and outlined plans to drive behaviour change, improve infrastructure and strengthen enforcement.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said:  “Scotland is a beautiful country and we all have a responsibility to keep it that way. We make no apologies for taking bold action on tackling litter and fly-tipping, which is a blight on our streets, communities, and countryside, as well as threatening our natural environment and wildlife.

“Our vision is for a future where Scotland’s environment and communities are not blighted by litter and fly-tipping, and materials remain within a circular economy. Supporting behaviour change and strengthening enforcement are two key themes of the Strategy.

“I’m very pleased that we have been able to deliver on this commitment and I look forward to further measures to strengthen enforcement which will be taken forward through our Circular Economy Bill this year.”  

The Bill – currently the subject of stage one scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament – includes specific provisions to tackle litter and fly-tipping: a new penalty regime to address littering from vehicles, powers to seize vehicles involved in specified waste crime, and strengthening household duty of care responsibilities in relation to household waste in order to help prevent fly-tipping.

The Circular Economy Bill will also establish the legislative framework to support Scotland’s transition to a zero waste and circular economy, significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services.

Zero Waste Scotland estimates there are more than 60,000 incidents of flytipping reported each year in Scotland. Land managers can use the Litter Monitoring System to record and map flytipping in Scotland. The organisation says this can “help develop effective prevention and enforcement interventions.”