If you get someone to take away your rubbish for you, it is your responsibility to make sure they are not going to dump it. Because if they do, the law says you could end up with a fine.
Fly tipping can attract a fixed penalty fine up to £1000 and this includes rubbish other people have dumped on your behalf.
A big part of the problem comes from rogue ‘white van’ operators offering cheap rubbish removal deals on social media and online. These unlicensed traders take your money and then dump your waste illegally in a nearby street or lay-by. So what may seem like a bargain is actually a #RubbishDeal.
If you’re hiring someone to take your rubbish away, take these three simple steps to
avoid inviting a criminal into your home:
- Ask for a waste carrier registration number
- Check it on the Environment Agency’s public register or call 0300 065 3000
- Check you’ll get a receipt
You should also not pay cash. Pay by a secure payment method or cheque, so payments can be traced if the waste is fly-tipped and you could also ask where they’re proposing to take your waste and if they have a waste transfer note.
It is also a good idea to get more than one quote and expect to pay a reasonable fee. If a deal seems too be good to be true, it probably is.
Why is this important?
Criminals have been known to go door to door offering rubbish removal services for cash-in-hand. That rubbish is then being fly-tipped and if any of it is traced back to you, it could mean a fine of up to £1000.