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:
- Ask to see their licence to ensure that your waste is being taken by a licensed waste carrier. You can check here https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers for details of registered carriers, or ring/email the Environment Agency
03708 506506 or enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk - Take a note or photograph of the registration number of the vehicle that is being used to take your rubbish away
- Ask where your rubbish is being taken, record any checks you make 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 he will return.
- Use contractors who leave cards or leaflets without checking them out.
- Use any contractor whose terms seem too good to be true; if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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.