A fake fly-tip was set-up at Cornish beauty spot to raise awareness about illegal dumping in rural areas.
Cornwall Council hosted the staged event at Golitha Falls, near Liskeard, on Thursday November 6.
Representatives from the Council’s Community Protection and Trading Standards teams, the Environment Agency, Devon and Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs team, the NFU and Clean Cornwall were on hand to speak to curious passers-by.
In the year 2023/2024, 3,655 incidents of fly-tipping were reported to Cornwall Council. The total cost of removing the fly-tipped waste from public land was over £450,000.
Sarah-Jane Brown, Group Leader for Community Protection at Cornwall Council, said: “Fly-tipping causes significant harm in rural communities. Dumped waste can damage wildlife habitats, pollute waterways, and harm livestock. It also blights the countryside, spoiling Cornwall’s natural beauty and creating costly and time-consuming clean-ups for landowners and the Council.
“We all have a responsibility to keep Cornwall clean and safe.”
PC Clarke Orchard, Rural Affairs Officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Not only is fly-tipping an eyesore, but with it comes a wealth of environmental consequences and financial implications; all of which cause harm in our communities.
“This is a selfish offence and one that blights our beautiful landscape and countryside. We will continue to work closely with our local partners across Devon and Cornwall to support educational events to raise awareness of this issue as well as targeted operations to identify those responsible.
“Whether you report fly-tipping when you see it or disposing of your waste correctly, we all have an important part to play in tackling this issue.
“If you fly-tip, your actions can have huge implications on wildlife, waterways and the wider community, including farmers and landowners. So please, stop and think twice.”
Fly‑tipping is a serious offence and carries tough penalties. Offenders can face Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £1,000 for large‑scale or hazardous dumping and £500 for smaller incidents.
In the most serious cases, prosecution through the courts can result in unlimited fines and even imprisonment for up to five years. Vehicles used in fly‑tipping may also be seized and destroyed, and offenders can be ordered to cover clean-up and legal costs.
Anyone who pays to have waste removed must check the person they’re hiring has a waste carrier’s licence, or they too could receive a fine if the waste ends up being dumped.
Representative from different agencies are working together to tackle fly-tipping
Steve Clark, Waste Team Leader for Cornwall at the Environment Agency, said: “If you’re paying someone to take waste away, which could be a tradesperson or a man with a van, make sure they are a registered waste carrier.
“We have a public register on the Environment Agency website so anyone can do a quick search and check if the individual or company is legitimate.”
Councillor Thalia Marrington, cabinet member with responsibility for Community Safety and Public Protection, said: “It’s great to see agencies working together to tackle this issue, which costs taxpayers and landowners significant amounts of money.
“We urge people to dispose of their waste responsibly and I’d also encourage anyone with evidence relating to incidents of fly-tipping to report it to the Council so we can investigate.”
Anyone who sees fly-tipped waste on public land is urged to report it, and to submit any evidence, such as pictures or videos that may help identify those responsible, via the Cornwall Council website.
If a fly-tip is obstructing a road, it should be reported to the Police by calling 999.
You can also report fly-tips anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visiting the Crimestoppers website.
Businesses, no matter how small, must use a licensed waste carrier to remove any commercial waste.
Advice for businesses on commercial waste and the law can also be found on the Cornwall Council website.
Press release issued on November 11, 2025