Report environmental issues

If you drop litter, you could receive a £400 fixed penalty notice (FPN) or be taken to court and fined up to £2,500. The £400 FPN can be reduced to £240 if paid within 10 days, however, this lesser amount is discretionary and can be withheld by the council in certain cases.

Litter includes cigarette butts, crisp packets, cans and other discarded items – it is unsightly, attracts vermin, and makes an area looked uncared for.

Our enforcement officers work around the district, and if littering is witnessed, will take action where necessary.

You should tell us if you see someone littering. Please provide as much information as possible, such as what happened, where it happened, a description of the person dropping litter and their vehicle, if applicable. Do not confront the person yourself.

Report littering

For information about abandoned vehicles please see our web page.

Considerate dog owners are always welcome in the South Cambridgeshire; please clear up after your dog to keep it a pleasant place for everybody.

You can use any plastic bag to pick up your dog's waste and put it in one of the dog waste bins or litter bins. Dog waste from your garden can be double-bagged and placed in your domestic waste bin.

It is important for all dog owners to take responsibility for cleaning up after their animal as, not only is it unpleasant to look at and even more unpleasant to step in, it can pose a health risk. For example, Toxocariasis is a rare infection caused by roundworms in the digestive tracts of dogs. It can cause headaches, eye problems and fever in humans if they come into contact with it.

If you spot a dog fouling problem, you can report it to us using our online form.

We can fine those who fail to pick up after their dog £50, so please ensure you have bags or poop scoops with you every time you walk your dog.

Graffiti is an illegal and anti-social activity that can create a negative impression of an area and contribute to people's fear of crime.

We will remove graffiti from council property. You can report graffiti to us using our online form.

If you have graffiti on your private property, it is your responsibility to remove it as soon as possible.

Offenders can be prosecuted under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. The penalties if found guilty include a jail sentence if the offender is over the age of 18 years, a detention and training order for young offenders or a heavy fine.

Fly-posting is the display of adverts or other promotional materials on buildings or street furniture and is not permitted by the council.

It can be difficult and expensive to remove and makes an area look untidy and uncared for.

You can report fly posting to us using our online form.

The following information will help us deal with the fly-posting as quickly as possible:

• Exact location
• Approximate size and number of posters or flyers
• Details of the event or business being advertised

Asbestos can be a dangerous material which, while being removed and disposed of, must be handled carefully and competently. A specialist licensed contractor should be used to ensure it is removed and disposed of in a controlled and safe manner. To find the latest advice on asbestos visit the Health and Safety Executive website.

Asbestos in Public Places

If you are aware of or suspect that asbestos has been dumped in a public area Environmental Health would certainly wish to know about such an incident. We would visit the site where the material is alleged to have been deposited and endeavour to get the landowner to remove it. The asbestos could be in a field in which case the landowner may be the farmer or, if it were on a bridleway or public footpath, we would advise the County Council. In either event, an environmental health officer would visit and then endeavour to have the material removed.