Fly-tippers could be made to clear their own mess – while councils will be given powers to seize money from offenders to fund clean-up operations.

The litter louts could also be given penalty points on their driving licences – a measure put forward last year by Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns (Con).

The new range of punishments – announced as part of the government's Waste Crime Action Plan – have been broadly welcomed.

Mrs Kearns said: "Last year the government voted against my policy to put points on the driving licences of fly-tippers. 

"I'm relieved they have now recognised it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, fly-tipping is a persistent and damaging reality for our rural communities, so I hope this policy will act as successful deterrent to this scourge on our countryside."

In the last parliament, Mrs Kearns successfully campaigned to increase fines for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000.

Currently fly-tippers can only be punished after being convicted – through either a significant fine, community sentence, or even prison sentence. 

Under the new proposals, councils would get the powers to issue fly-tippers with so-called conditional cautions instead of being taken to court. 

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These could see offenders complete up to 20 hours of unpaid work, cleaning streets, parks, and the exact stops they have dumped waste. 

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: "If you dump rubbish on our streets, you will be joining a clean-up squad and picking up the bill, not the taxpayer.

"We are clamping down on these criminals, making sure those responsible clean up and pay up. 

"This government is handing both the Environment Agency and local authorities the power to boost waste crime enforcement, hand out tougher sentences and tackle illegal dumping faster.

"Litter louts who repeatedly break the law will see points added to their licence and risk losing it for good if they continue to offend."

Fly-tipping is a particularly problem for rural and farming communities and recent statistics have shown an increase in enforcement against fly-tippers. 

Local authorities carried out 572,000 enforcement actions in 2024/25, an increase of eight per cent from 530,000 in 2023/24. 

These actions included issuing fixed penalty notices, 69,000 of which were issued in 2024/25 – an increase of nine per cent from 63,000 in 2023/24.

Vice-president of the National Farmers' Union Robyn Munt said: "Increased funding, clean-up squads and a firm commitment to tackling waste crime at its source will help ensure perpetrators are held accountable and made to cover the cost of the damage they are causing. 

"This is a vital step to deter criminal behaviour, protect our environment, and prevent the victims of the crime from having to pay the penalty."