Useful contacts for common environmental issues and concerns
The OEP can consider complaints about serious potential failures to comply with environmental law by public authorities. For other matters please see the below contacts and useful links.
Bats
Advice and guidance:
Biodiversity
Citizens Advice
Free and confidential information and advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk opens in new window
Environmental incidents
For urgent environmental incidents please call the Environment Agency's incident hotline 0800 80 70 60.
Some examples of environmental incidents are listed below:
- collapsed or badly damaged river banks
- damage or danger to the natural environment
- dead fish or fish gasping for air
- flooding from main rivers opens in new window or the sea
- illegal removals from watercourses
- incidents at Environment Agency-regulated waste sites
- main rivers opens in new window blocked by a vehicle or fallen tree causing risk of flooding
- poaching or illegal fishing
- pollution to water or land
- unusual changes in river flow
Environmental Law Foundation
A national charity offering free legal advice for people and communities on environmental law matters www.elflaw.org opens in new window
Finding your local council
You can find the website for your local council here: www.gov.uk/find-local-council opens in new window
Fly Tipping
- Small Scale - your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
- Large Scale/Industrial Waste- Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60
Housing Conditions
- Your landlord or Housing Association
- Housing Ombudsman: www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk opens in new window
Landfill Sites
Depending on the nature of the concern different responsibilities apply. Please check the websites of your local council opens in new window and the Environment Agency opens in new window to see who is best placed to deal with the incident you would like to report.
Litter
- Your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
- Litter and refuse: Council responsibilities to keep land clear - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) opens in new window
Local Government Ombudsman
For maladministration complaints about Local Councils: www.lgo.org.uk opens in new window
Noise
Environmental Health Service at your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
For complaints about Public Services in Northern Ireland: www.nipso.org.uk opens in new window
Odours and Smells
Environmental Health Service at your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
For complaints about UK Government Departments, NHS and other Public Authorities: www.ombudsman.org.uk opens in new window
Pests
Rats, mice and other vermin should be reported to Environmental Health at your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Pollution
Depending on the nature of the pollution different responsibilities apply. Please check the websites of your local council opens in new window, and the Environment Agency opens in new window to see who is best placed to deal with the incident you would like to report.
Professional Bodies
May consider complaints about their members. For example, cieem.net opens in new window
Smoke and Bonfires (houses/residential/garden waste)
Environmental Health Service at your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Smoke and Bonfires (commercial waste)
- Environmental Health Service at your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
- Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60
Trees and Tree Removal
Your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Waste and Bin Collections
Waste team at your local council: www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Water Companies
- Your local Water Company
- Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60
- OFWAT: www.ofwat.gov.uk opens in new window
Wildlife Crime
- Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme 0800 321 600
- Some Police Forces have a wildlife crime unit. You can report crimes via 999 or 111 or anonymously via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111