Businesses dumping waste could be fined £20,000 if they continue to flytip.

Basildon Council has agreed to step up enforcement powers to use community protection noitces, which will allow the council to fine businesses up to £20,000.

Homeowners could also be fined up to £2,500 for dumping waste.

The notices, which can only be issued following a written warning, will be used in addition to Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) or other traditional methods of enforcement.

They will be used only in the most persistent and serious cases.

Breaching a community protection notice is a criminal offence and is intended to deal with unreasonable, ongoing problems or nuisance which negatively affect the community’s quality of life by targeting the person or organisation responsible.

David Harrison, councillor of the Wickford North ward, said: "“It is clear that most residents do the right thing with their waste but a minority let the side down.

"Domestic household waste accounts for more than 80% of the borough’s flytips.

"This statistic has to fall so giving our enforcement officers the tools to be able to uphold a clean environment is vital.

"Dumped items encourage further dumping and have a knock-on effect to other services like street cleansing, and detract from the kind of environment we want to provide our residents with.”