In an attempt to reduce fly-tipping, new regulations were introduced in February giving local authorities the right to demand duty of care records from companies regarding the tipping of waste.

The Environment Agency already has this power but it has been extended to local authorities to help them tackle problems locally.

Companies that do not have arrangements to manage and dispose of waste safely, and do not have systems in place to complete and retain duty of care transfer notes, are liable to unlimited fines and directors can be imprisoned.

The Environment Agency estimates that there are 50,000 incidents of fly-tipping each year, costing the rest of us somewhere between £100million and £150million to clear up.