Sefton Council is warning the Borough’s private landlords that they need to make proper arrangements for their tenants to store refuse until the designated collection day.

Unlimited fine

If they, or their tenants, don’t dispose of items correctly they could face Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £400 or an unlimited fine.

Sefton Council has recently issued a local resident with a fixed penalty notice and around 15 more cases relating to refuse not being disposed of properly, are being processed.

Many landlords are required under their licences to provide support to tenants. This may include external storage areas for rubbish, wheelie bins or, in some areas, refuse sacks, as well as ensuring tenants are aware of when collections take place.

Selfish, anti-social, potentially hazardous, and illegal

Cllr Peter Harvey, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Street Scene said: “I have said before - fly-tipping is selfish, anti-social, potentially hazardous, and illegal.

“We will not tolerate it in Sefton, and we will come after culprits, and this includes landlords not meeting their requirements to their tenants and to the Borough.

“Sefton Council has to use resources cleaning up Sadly, dumping waste in our streets, alleys and green spaces means and those resources could be better used on supporting vulnerable local people.

“We have recently issued a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice to a woman found to be responsible for a recent fly-tipping incident and there are further 15 similar, possible cases in the pipeline, so more people may soon be getting an unwelcome surprise visit from our Enforcement team and facing a hefty fine.

“I hope this makes clear that whoever you are, Sefton Council will not tolerate fly-tipping and if we identify that you are responsible for it, we will come after you.”

Details of bin collections days in Sefton can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/collection-days.

Household Waste Recycling Centres

Tenants can dispose of waste legally at Sefton’s four Household Waste Recycling Centres, which are at:

• South Sefton Household Waste Recycling Centre, Irlam Road, Bootle L20 4AE
• Sefton Meadows Household Waste Recycling Centre, Sefton Lane, Maghull L31 8BX
• Southport Household Waste Recycling Centre, Foul Lane, Southport PR9 7RG
• Formby Household Waste Recycling Centre, Altcar Road, Formby L37 8DL

Duty of care

Anyone, including landlords, has a duty of care with respects to the disposal of their waste.

If hiring someone to dispose of rubbish you should make sure that the company is registered with the Environment Agency.

You can ask to see the licence issued by the Environment Agency or call the agency directly on 03708 506 506 or check on their website at www.gov.uk/environment-agency . And they should take names addresses and vehicle details and ask for a proper invoice or receipt.

If it is found you have employed someone to remove the waste and they are found to have fly-tipped it or have not ensured they are a licenced waste carrier, you can be liable to a £300 Fixed Penalty Notice.

Three large items

Sefton Council will remove up to three large items such as furniture for £25. Details of this service can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/bulky-items

That page also contains details of how to contact charities Emmaus and the British Heart Foundation. They will collect furniture and household items in good condition, free of charge to support local people in need.

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