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Government · France
Updated September 2026

🗑️ Someone dumped waste or is polluting — who do I report it to?

Direct answer

Fly-tipping, a leaking container, oil in a stream: report to Mairie — police municipale / services techniques (service-public.fr) — the municipality clears public land and fines when there is evidence (a photo of the plate, a document in the waste). Larger pollution, industrial sites, chemicals, dead fish: Service communal d'hygiène et de santé (SCHS) / ARS (service-public.fr), the environmental inspectorate, which has a 24-hour line in most countries. Dumping in progress with a vehicle: Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEE (service-public.fr) — do not confront.

Call firstMairie — police municipale / services techniques
Report toService communal d'hygiène et de santé (SCHS) / ARS
If that failsPolice / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEE

🗣️ What to say

"At [location] there is [dumped waste / a pollution: what], since [date/time]. [Plate / description of vehicle or person if seen.] Photos attached. Please remove it and investigate; I can be contacted at [number] / anonymously."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Photograph, do not touchWide and close shots; anything with a name or plate. Do not search through it.
  2. Report: Mairie — police municipale / services techniquesOnline form or app; the municipality clears public land within days.
  3. Pollution: Service communal d'hygiène et de santé (SCHS) / ARSChemicals, oil, smoke, smell from a site, water discoloration — the inspectorate, immediately.
  4. In progress: Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEEA vehicle unloading: police, with the plate. Do not confront.
  5. Private landThe owner must clear it; the municipality can order and fine. Report anyway.

📇 All contacts

Mairie — police municipale / services techniquesNuisances, roads, cleanliness, civil registry, lost propertyFor anything the municipality handles🔗 www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/N31
Service communal d'hygiène et de santé (SCHS) / ARSUnfit housing, mould, pests, noiseWhen health is at risk at home🔗 www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F16158
Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEEOnline complaint for internet fraud, immediate receiptAlways — the basis for bank, insurer and platform🔗 www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R46526
DREAL / Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)Environmental inspection and enforcementIndustrial pollution, harm to water or nature🔗 www.ofb.gouv.fr

❓ Frequently asked

Can I be fined for waste dumped in front of my house?

Not if you report it and it is not yours. Reporting protects you.

Asbestos or drums of chemicals

Stay away, keep children and pets away, report to Service communal d'hygiène et de santé (SCHS) / ARS as hazardous. Specialist removal is arranged by the authority.

A neighbour burns rubbish

Prohibited nearly everywhere; report to Mairie — police municipale / services techniques with times and photos of the smoke; repeated burning goes to Service communal d'hygiène et de santé (SCHS) / ARS.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “report illegal dumping France”
  • “fly tipping report municipality”
  • “environmental pollution hotline France”
  • “report chemical spill”
  • “neighbour burning waste”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

💡Broken streetlight→🐀Pests→📩Object to a decision→⚡Power outage→

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