Northern Ireland’s environment agency has reported a concerning trend in illegal dumping, with only 29 successful prosecutions for fly-tipping over the past five years. The figures reveal just seven prosecutions in 2025, six in each of the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, and only four in 2021.
The scale of the issue is alarming, with an estimated 300,000 tonnes of waste dumped illegally each year, costing around £34 million annually, according to the Northern Ireland Audit Office’s 2025 report. Notably, the total number of prosecutions does not include three additional successful cases related to the illegal treatment and storage of waste.
SDLP Assembly member and AERA committee spokesperson Daniel McCrossan highlighted the low prosecution rate as a sign that those responsible for illegal dumping face minimal consequences. He emphasized the significant environmental damage caused by illegal dumping, which affects rural communities, beauty spots, and green spaces. McCrossan pointed out that the lack of fear of detection or prosecution allows this issue to persist, contributing to environmental harm, damaging biodiversity, and even leading to incidents like recent wildfires.
He called for meaningful deterrents and proper enforcement, urging the DAERA Minister to collaborate with Executive colleagues, including the Justice Minister, to implement robust measures to tackle this issue.
A DAERA spokesperson acknowledged the seriousness of waste crime and stated that all incidents of illegal dumping and fly-tipping are investigated. They emphasized the importance of public reporting to assist in holding perpetrators accountable, noting that the NIEA’s Environmental Crime Unit investigates suspected waste offences under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, with district councils also having enforcement authority and maintaining separate prosecution data.
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