Encouraging local residents and businesses to be bin aware

West Northamptonshire Council is issuing advice to local residents and businesses following an increase in the number of people depositing waste within private and residential bins.

Unlawfully disposing of waste items into a residential or commercial bin that belongs to another person is a fly tipping offence and can lead to a £1,000 fine or prosecution.

The WNC Environmental Crime Team has been targeting individuals and businesses who use private and residential bin stores to illegally dispose of waste items following an increase in complaints from local residents who have been unable to use their bins due to continued fly tipping.

The team has been investigating a number of complaints from residents in the St David’s area of Northampton who have been unable to use their residential bins due to continued fly tipping. Since July 2026, four offenders have been identified and each received a £1,000 fine.   

Individuals, businesses and residents rely on their bins to dispose of their waste, and unlawfully disposing of waste items in someone else’s bin often means they don’t have space to dispose what they need to, have to make alternative arrangements for its safe disposal and in some cases pay for the disposal of this waste.

This behaviour often leads to overflowing and accumulating waste and litter which in turn has a wider environmental impact and costs the taxpayer to have the area cleared.

Cllr Andrew Last, – Cabinet Member for HR, Corporate and Regulatory Services, said: “Local people and businesses may feel they are doing the right thing by disposing of their waste in the nearest bin.

“We’re reminding them that everyone relies on their bins to dispose of their waste so please be courteous of others and only dispose of waste in your own bin.

“We actively listen to local residents and in this instance our Environmental Crime Team has responded to complaints and taken proactive action to investigate the issues raised, identify offenders and issue fines.”

Big and bulky items are not accepted in any residential bins and household waste can be disposed of for free by booking a slot at a Household Waste Recycling Centre, by a pre-arranged, paid for bulky collection with West Northamptonshire Council or by arranging collection through a licenced waste carrier or skip hire.

Anyone who witnesses fly tipping is encouraged to report it via the the fly tipping webpage, the Report It app or by contacting the customer service team on 0300 126 7000.