Calderdale Tackles Fly-tipping with Drones and Vehicle Seizures

Hey, guess what’s happening in Calderdale? The council is fighting fly-tipping with drones, including areas like Brighouse and Shelf, to catch people dumping trash illegally.

Drones can cover big areas quickly and give the council data to track fly-tipping, helping them prosecute offenders effectively.

Last year, the council used drones extensively, seizing vehicles from fly-tippers and issuing the maximum fine of £1,000; more recently, they seized two more vehicles in just six weeks this year.

Councillor Thornham considers fly-tipping a serious crime and hopes fines deter future dumping; she asked for more details on catching offenders and how fine money is being used.

Councillor Durrans explained the process: teams search dumped waste for clues, gather info from residents and CCTV, and even use their own CCTV and drones operating in fly-tipping hotspots.

Actions also include witness statements, seizing vehicles, and issuing fines; sometimes they prosecute cases in court, and in 2024, they gave out 45 fines and seized eight vehicles.

So far in 2025, they gave out nine fines and seized two more vehicles; teams closely collaborate with police, and community members also contribute.

Fine money helps cover fly-tipping costs, paying for waste removal when needed and replacing old drone equipment, making it seem like a good plan overall!