Waste accumulation (build up of waste)

Accumulations of household waste

Waste means unwanted or unusable items. Large amounts of waste may be a health risk, cause significant nuisance to neighbours (for example, causing odours and attracting flies), or provide food or shelter for rats.

Homeowners, landlords, and tenants are legally responsible for storing and getting rid of household waste correctly.

A build-up (or 'accumulation') of waste usually involves household rubbish, or foul-smelling or decaying items like food or animal waste. For example, rubbish left on the ground instead of being put into a bin bag, or bin bags left in the garden instead of in the bin. An accumulation is when the waste isn't cleared away in a reasonable time, and over time, the amount increases.

What we can do about accumulations of waste

We have legal powers to deal with waste if it's a serious risk to public health or a serious nuisance.

We can take enforcement action if the waste is causing a nuisance to others because it:

is not being stored correctly
is not removed within a reasonable amount of time

The waste must have been building up in a garden or yard for at least 2 weeks. It must also be causing a nuisance (for example, causing odours or attracting rats or flies), or causing harm because of the type, amount, and location of the waste. A missed bin collection does not count as an accumulation of waste.

As well as rubbish, waste also includes household items which are no longer needed and have been left in the open. For example, furniture, mattresses, carpets, and other items. These can attract rats, as well as being very unsightly and blighting the neighbourhood. We can take enforcement action if unwanted household items have been left outside in a garden or yard, and they are causing harm.

It's important to understand that homeowners and tenants have the right to use their land in any way they want. However, this must not cause severe harm to others or the local area.

Reporting an accumulation of waste

Please tell us as much as you can about the waste, for example:

the type (food, household items, etc.)
its condition (for example, if it's rotting)
how much there is
where it is
how it's affecting you

If your bin has not been collected, this does not count as an accumulation of waste. There is a different way toreport a missed bin collection.

What happens after a report?

We will investigate the report and decide if the waste poses a risk to public health or is considered likely to attract rodents. If we determine it does, we will ask the persons responsible to clear the waste.

Where the owner or occupier of the land is unwilling to cooperate with advice, and informal requests to remove the accumulation are ignored, we may take formal enforcement action and serve a Notice requiring them to remove it within a specified period of time.

The scope of the notice will vary depending on circumstances and may also stipulate specific 'works' or maintenance schedules to keep the land or property free from rodents and in a manner that will not cause further problems.

If the accumulation is not removed in accordance with the specifications of the Notice we may carry out one or both of the following:

arrange for removal of the accumulation and recover all reasonable costs incurred (including our time) from the person on whom the notice was served
prosecute the person on whom the notice was served