Environmental issues

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland

The state of our physical environment matters because it affects our health, our state of wellbeing and sense of community. This section outlines some possible approaches to litter, fly tipping, pests and vermin, pollution, and recycling.

Litter and fly tipping

Litter is anything dropped in a public place, from small things like sweet wrappers, cigarette ends and chewing gum to large things like bin liners full of rubbish and discarded furniture and electrical appliances. Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of rubbish on land.

Domestic rubbish

Put your rubbish in strong bin liners and/or a dustbin and leave it out for collection by the council. Ask your neighbours or the council when this is. Make sure that your rubbish isn't allowed to spill over the street or pavement. If you don't have a dustbin, don't put rubbish bags out until the due date, because animals or accidental damage might lead to spills.

If you have garden waste, check if the council will collect it or, if you can, take it to the council tip.

Private documents like bank statements and telephone bills could be used for fraud or identity theft, so shred them before you throw them away.

Don't drop litter in the street - this includes chewing gum and cigarette ends. If you are picking up litter, take care - it may contain dangerous items like needles or broken glass.

There are lots of things you can do to reduce your rubbish:

• avoid over packaged food, and try not to waste food
• re-use plastic bags and cardboard boxes
• recycle
• compost biodegradable materials like uncooked vegetable waste and cardboard, if you can. You can get a compost bin and your council may have a low price offer.

Large items of rubbish

Ask the council to remove large items - there may be a small fee. Or take large items to the council tip yourself. When you replace furniture or appliances, always ask whether the old item can be taken away at no cost or a small fee. Fridges are difficult to get rid of, and shops selling new ones must offer to remove your old one.

If you see things that have been dumped but can be traced back to business owners (eg supermarket trolleys) contact the owners, who should recover them.

Cars and other vehicles

Cars and other vehicles must be disposed of properly. If you dump an old car in the street, the council or the police are likely to trace it back to you. You might have to pay fines, removal costs, and road tax. So ask garages or look on the internet about getting rid of your car. You might find that it has a sale or trade-in value, or that you can at least get someone to remove it for you free of charge. Even if you have to pay, the cost will be less than what you might pay if you dump it. Make sure that you get paperwork to send to the DVLA to prove it has been disposed of properly.

If you think that a car has been dumped, report it to the police, the council or the DVLA. The DVLA has an online report service for untaxed vehicles.

Dangerous and poisonous rubbish

Some rubbish is dangerous or hazardous to people, animals or the environment, such as asbestos, bottled gas, bleach and other cleaning chemicals, explosives, oil and petrol, paint, pressurised containers, and solvents. Follow the manufacturer's instructions about disposal of dangerous rubbish, and ask the council if there is anything you are not sure about.

If you find dangerous or hazardous rubbish, report it to the council.

Drugs and injecting equipment

Medical equipment such as needles or syringes is called 'sharps'. These items are dangerous because they can pierce the skin and transmit life threatening diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

Dispose of sharps properly. The method will depend on where you live. In some areas you can take a sharps box to your doctor or pharmacist, and in others the council will collect it. Some areas have a needle exchange, so ask your doctor or a drug helpline (eg Release).

If you see sharps in a public space, tell the council, who will remove them. Hospitals and schools have staff trained to remove sharps found on their premises.

Dispose of drugs carefully. Unused medical drugs, particularly antibiotics, should be taken to a pharmacist for disposal. To dispose of illegal drugs, ask a drug helpline (eg Release).

Building waste

Builders should remove their waste using a skip, truck or bags.

If you do building work, it is your responsibility to deal with the waste. You could hire a skip, or use one of the schemes run by DIY store where you buy a large sack, fill it up, and then the store collects it. You can only put a skip or large sack on a public road or pavement if you get a licence - ask the council for details. If you need to dispose of small amounts of building waste, bag it up, and take it to the council tip or ask the council to collect it.

If you find asbestos in your home, you should not attempt to remove it yourself. Contact the council to find out how to dispose of it. You may need a specialist contractor.

Problems with litter or fly tipping

If there is a general problem about litter or fly tipping in your neighbourhood, you can do things to try to deal with the problem. The action you take depends on what the problem is, how bad the problem is and what, if anything, you have already tried to do about it. Here are some of the things that might work:

• Report the problem to the landowner. If you live on an estate, it is probably the council or a housing association. It is up to the landowner to clear up. On public roads and pavements, it is up to the council to clear up. If nothing is done, you could make a complaint.
• Raise the problem at a meeting of your local residents' association.
• Report the problem to the environmental health department of the council. If the problem is causing a health hazard or a nuisance, they may be able to:
  • impose on the spot fines
  • prosecute for more serious offences
  • make landowners clear up the rubbish, if it might encourage more dumping
  • make fast food outlets, stalls and vans to clear up litter or put in litter bins
  • involve other agencies (eg police, fire service or water company).

If the problem is caused by someone persistently dropping litter or fly tipping, their actions may constitute antisocial behaviour.

Pollution

Pollution means something that is spilt or allowed to spill into a place where it becomes dangerous. Pollution can harm us, animals and plants, and may damage the environment now and in the future.

Your water supply

Most homes receive mains water, which is safe to drink and use in the home. If your mains water turns cloudy or discoloured or tastes different or smells funny, contact your water company. Look in your phone book or on the internet for the emergency line. If you are not happy with what your water company does, you can contact the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). The DWI can make the water company put things right, or prosecute it.

If you have a private water supply that you think may be polluted, contact the council's environmental health officer for advice.

But if water that is not from the mains is discoloured, this may be a problem in your home, which you or (if you live in rented property) your landlord must fix.

Drains, sewers and waste from your home

Street drains and the drains from roofs are meant to carry rainwater. Don't put rubbish or waste of any kind in them. Sewers take the waste water and effluent from your home. Don't put rubbish in them. Only use cleaning materials intended for domestic use and follow the instructions. Where possible choose products that do the least damage to the environment. Oil, paint, solvents and other poisonous or hazardous chemicals should never be poured into any drain. Follow the manufacturer's instructions about disposal of chemicals, and ask the council if there is anything you are not sure about.

If you believe that another person or company is polluting drains, tell your water company. Look in your phone book or on the internet for the emergency line.

Pollution of streams, rivers, canals and coastlines

Don't dump waste of any kind in streams, rivers or canals, or in the sea or on a coastline. It is illegal, except for any business that has a specific business licence to dump waste. Call the Environment Agency to report pollution or evidence of it (eg dead fish) or illegal dumping of hazardous waste. You can also call about damaged river banks or canal sides, a blockage of a stream or canal, or flood damage.

Poisonous gases

Some substances used in the home can give off dangerous fumes. Only use cleaning materials intended for domestic use and follow the instructions.

Check with the council before having a bonfire or a domestic fire, because they are illegal in some areas and regulated in many others (eg bonfires only at certain times, smokeless fuel only). If you are allowed a fire, be sensible about what you burn. Plastics, rubber, paints and many other materials give off poisonous and unpleasant fumes when burnt, so don't burn them.

If there is someone who is persistently responsible for poisonous or unpleasant fumes from chemicals or from fires, or who lights illegal fires, their actions may constitute antisocial behaviour.

If you are suffering from fumes from a local business, report the problem to the environmental health department of the council, who can help if air pollution is a hazard to health or a nuisance. Pollution from large businesses and transport is mainly controlled by national government agencies, so report the problem either to the environmental health department or the Environment Agency.

Air pollution has to be monitored by the council, which can take steps to improve air quality. So tell the EHO if you think that the air where you live is particularly bad. This may lead to improvements in the long term. The EHO may also advise you how to improve air quality in your home.

Natural gas

Gas leaks can cause explosions and fires. So if you smell gas, call 0800 111 999 immediately. Open windows and doors if you're inside, and don't light any flame or use any electrical switch.

A poorly maintained gas fire or boiler can leak carbon monoxide, which could kill you or your family. You can reduce the risks if you take precautions.

Light pollution

Night time light is sometimes seen as a kind of pollution, and it can certainly be irritating. Don't leave unnecessary lights on at night, and adjust security lighting so that it doesn't bother neighbours or passers by. Even if your neighbour's lights are a persistent nuisance, it may be possible to avoid a dispute by talking to them.

Recycling

We need to recycle, to save energy and other natural resources, and to reduce carbon emissions. You can help if you:

• sort rubbish for recycling. Some council schemes are compulsory, some are voluntary, but you should always use them if you can
• use other recycling schemes - for example, supermarkets often collect plastic bags and have recycling points in their car parks
• compost vegetable and garden waste and cardboard, and reuse the compost in your garden
• recycle old phones and printer cartridges. Many charities and schools collect these
• take old but saleable things to charity shops. They usually don't take electrical items or upholstered furniture
• sell things on the internet (eg Ebay), or use Freecycle to give things away
• when you replace furniture or appliances, always ask whether the old item can be taken away for recycling
• choose recycled products when you buy.

Pests and vermin

Wild animals that cause a nuisance or a health risk are referred to as pests or vermin. Remember that to harm animals can be a criminal offence, in some cases leading to a prison term, for example:

• harming one of the many animals or birds that are protected by law or damaging their eggs or nests
• animal cruelty
• domestic animals belonging to someone else

If you don't know what to do, get advice from the council's environmental health department or the RSPCA.

Vermin - rats and mice

Rats cause damage and can spread disease. If they are in or near your home, you need to take steps against them. Mice are usually harmless outdoors, but in the home can cause damage and spread disease. Put food away in sealed containers or on high shelves. If the problem gets bad, take steps against them.

If you are the homeowner, you can use shop-bought traps or poison, or use a pest control company. If you rent your home, report the problem to the landlord, who should deal with it. If there are rats on neighbouring land, it is your neighbours' responsibility to deal with them. If your landlord or neighbour refuses to do anything, report the situation to the council's environmental health department.

Insects and other small beasts

Most insects are harmless and many are beneficial. Leave them alone, or simply remove them from your home if they are unwelcome. But some insects are a problem, for example:

• cockroaches cause damage and can spread disease
• wasps can be dangerous if there is a nest in or near to your home
• clothes moths can damage clothes, curtains and other fabrics, but most moths are harmless
• woodworm and deathwatch beetle can damage furniture and even any parts of the structure of the building that are made of wood

If you are the homeowner, you can use shop-bought control methods, or use a pest control company. If you rent your home, report the problem to the landlord, who should deal with it. If not, report the situation to the council's environmental health department.

Large flies can spread disease and should be removed from your home or killed. Discourage flies by covering food and dealing with rubbish properly - see Domestic rubbish.

You can get advice about insects and pests in your home from the council's environmental health department.

Pests in the garden and outside

Gardeners are troubled by a range of pests, from slugs to rabbits and deer. Use barriers or biological control rather than poisons, which may kill beneficial animals or cause pollution. Always follow the instructions o any product you use.

Pigeons, squirrels and foxes can all cause damage. Don't encourage them by feeding them. If someone causes a nuisance by feeding animals inappropriately, this may be classed as antisocial behaviour.