February 18, 2026 - 229 views
A crackdown on fly-tipping across Wales is set to benefit communities in North Wales, with new surveillance cameras and tougher enforcement measures aimed at tackling illegal dumping.
The Welsh Government has announced funding for 150 new trail cameras to be deployed in fly-tipping hotspots through Fly-tipping Action Wales. The move comes after 42,171 fly-tipping incidents were reported across Wales between April 2023 and March 2024, with 71% involving household waste.
In North Wales, Denbighshire and Flintshire are among the councils receiving grant support for enforcement and camera-based projects. The funding will help authorities target known dumping sites, gather evidence and pursue prosecutions, with best practice shared across other areas.
Fly-tipping has been a persistent issue across the region, affecting rural lanes, beauty spots and residential areas. In counties such as Conwy, Gwynedd and Wrexham, residents have repeatedly raised concerns about rubbish being dumped on country roads and near tourism hotspots, particularly during the summer months.
Local authorities say the clean-up costs run into hundreds of thousands of pounds each year — money that ultimately comes from council budgets.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said there was “never any excuse” for fly-tipping.
“It blights our streets, countryside and communities, and people the length and breadth of the country are rightly angry about it,” he said. “We are determined to clean up our communities, and these new cameras will help us do just that.”
He added that continued Welsh Government funding ensures local authorities have access to enforcement expertise, surveillance equipment and legal support needed to catch and punish offenders.
Alongside the cameras, the Welsh Government is reviewing fixed penalty notice limits for fly-tipping and household waste duty of care offences. Ministers say they are considering whether current fines are high enough to deter offenders, following calls from councils for stronger powers.
Residents are also being reminded of their own legal responsibilities when arranging waste removal. Anyone paying for rubbish to be taken away must ensure the person or company is a registered waste carrier. If waste is later found fly-tipped, the householder could face a fine or even prosecution.
Waste carrier licences can be checked via Natural Resources Wales.
With rural North Wales particularly vulnerable to illegal dumping due to its extensive road network and isolated beauty spots, councils say the additional cameras and tougher penalties could play an important role in protecting communities and the environment.
