Householders must take responsibility for their waste - or risk
fines!
As of Monday 21 November 2005 all householders in England have
a responsibility, under the new ‘Duty of Care’ waste regulations,
to ensure that their rubbish is taken away by authorised carriers
only.
Householders not taking reasonable measures to do this could face
fines of up to £5,000.
These changes (part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and
Environment Act) aim to reduce the thousands of tonnes of
household waste being fly-tipped each year. In 2004/05, there were
500,000 fly-tips of household rubbish; much of which was dumped by
operators posing as legitimate waste carriers. Registered waste
carriers, other than us, can now be found online thanks to a new
‘waste carrier register’, set up by the Environment Agency.
Fly-tippers rely on people not asking questions, and not checking
for registration – but now all householders have a responsibility
to ask those questions, and check for that registration.
Rogue waste carriers can make huge sums of money by charging to
take household rubbish away illegally, before dumping it over the
nearest hedge. Now, if that rubbish is traced back to the household
it came from, the householder could now be fined.
All household waste can still be disposed of at local
Household Waste Recycling Sites
(HWRS) free of charge. For residents unable to take bulky
waste to the HWRS themselves, we offer a collection
service at a very reasonable rate.
However, for those using waste carriers other than us to remove
household, garden or construction waste, the Environment Agency
suggests the following check:
- Consider whether the contractor falls into one of the following
categories: All building and allied trades; landscape gardeners,
tree fellers and surgeons; house clearers; retail establishments;
scrap metal dealers. These are occupations that will normally need
a waste carrier registration.
- Ask the contractor whether they are a registered waste carrier
and ask for their waste carrier number. If they are not registered,
refuse the service, and advise them that they need to speak with
the Environment Agency on 08708 506506.
- If they claim to be registered, telephone the Environment
Agency on 08708 506506 and request an instant Waste Carrier
Validation Check or check online at
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/publicregister.
Further information and
advice
If you require further information or wish to report an incident,
please contact Environmental Services on:
Telephone: 01638 719284
Email:
es@forest-heath.gov.uk
For further information on is available on Waste Responsibilities
the following website(s):