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Check who you pay to take your rubbish away

Your Responsibilities

You are legally responsible for the waste you are getting rid of. By giving your waste to someone else, who then goes on to dump it as a fly-tip, you could be held responsible and face prosecution and a fine of up to £5000 for fly-tipping if you haven’t taken reasonable measures to check that the company or person has a licence to carry waste.

Always:

  • Request and check potential contractors waste carrier license number(s) against the National database to ensure that your waste is being taken by an authorised waste carrier. You will find more information, and can check licence details via this link: Dispose of household waste – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  • You may also want to take a note or photograph of your waste and the registration number of the vehicle that is being used to take your rubbish away. If the carrier did have a licence number but your waste was subsequently found fly tipped and traced back to you, you would have supporting evidence of the initial licence check, waste types and vehicle removing the waste.
  • Always ask where your rubbish is being taken to, record any checks you make (as above) and ask for a receipt.

Please don’t:

  • Use any contractor who cold calls on you without checking them out before committing yourself. If the contractor is genuine they will hold a valid licence number and you can contact them in your own time.
  • Use contractors who leave cards or leaflets without checking them out.
  • Use any contractor whose terms seem too good to be true, particularly if a limited time ‘offer’. If it seems too good to be true or cheap, it is likely your waste will not be managed correctly.

And finally:

Environmental Enforcement Officers who see people dumping waste or leaving items they no longer want outside their homes or in other public places for others to pick up can issue fixed penalty notices of up to £400.