Lawyer outlines steps if a neighbour dumps rubbish in your skip, citing Environmental Protection Act

A solicitor advising readers of a national newspaper has set out practical steps for people who catch a neighbour adding rubbish to their private skip, saying evidence-gathering and a formal letter citing the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are the next moves if a friendly request is refused.

Dean Dunham, writing in the Daily Mail’s Money section on Sept. 2, 2025, told a reader who said they had seen a neighbour throw an old carpet and wooden boards into their skip that the first step is usually to try a friendly conversation. When that approach does not resolve the dispute because the neighbour denies responsibility, Dunham recommended collecting independent evidence, such as footage from nearby CCTV or video doorbells that cover the skip.

Dunham said that, if camera footage shows the neighbour dumping the items, the skip owner can use the material to demand removal of the waste. If the neighbour continues to deny responsibility, he advised sending a formal letter explaining that the Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes it an offence to dispose of waste on land without the owner’s consent — a provision that can apply to material placed in a skip paid for by someone else.

The solicitor framed the formal letter as a necessary escalation after informal resolution failed. He said it should set out the factual account, point to the legal prohibition on unauthorised disposal of waste and put the neighbour on notice of potential further action if the items are not removed. Dunham described the letter and subsequent legal steps as the route likely to secure a result for the skip owner.

The guidance comes amid continuing public concern over fly-tipping and unauthorised waste disposal, practices that local authorities and the Environment Agency treat as criminal matters when waste is dumped illegally. In Britain, offences related to the unauthorised deposit of waste can lead to enforcement action, fines or prosecution depending on the circumstances and severity, and councils regularly investigate reports of fly-tipping and unauthorised waste storage.

Legal experts and local authorities typically recommend documenting incidents carefully. Evidence such as timestamps on video-doorbell footage, witness statements from neighbours and clear photographs of the dumped items and their location can strengthen both civil and enforcement cases. Where waste has been placed on private property without permission, the landowner or the person who paid for the skip may have the strongest standing to demand removal or pursue remedies.

Dunham’s column did not set out every possible enforcement route but signalled that after evidence is gathered and a formal letter issued, complainants may be left with options including reporting the incident to the local authority or seeking a civil remedy if the neighbour refuses to remove the waste. Local councils handle many reports of illegal dumping and can investigate, issue notices to remove waste and, in some cases, pursue penalties against offenders.

Property disputes over rubbish in or near skips often revolve around ownership and consent. Skips placed on private land are generally under the control of the person who hired them, and materials placed by third parties without that person’s permission can be treated as unauthorised disposal. Conversely, skips on public highways or council land may fall under different rules and enforcement regimes.

Readers confronted with similar disputes are advised to avoid confrontation, to record what occurs, to seek corroborating footage or witness accounts and to consider a formal written approach if a first request is denied, according to Dunham. Where incidents persist or escalate, local authorities and, if necessary, legal advisers can provide further guidance on enforcement and civil options.

The advice was published in the Daily Mail and reflects a solicitor’s practical steps for dealing with small-scale neighbour disputes over waste disposal. It underscores the legal protections against unauthorised disposal and the role of documentary evidence in resolving such conflicts.