Press Releases
Cowboy traders could cost you dear (PR 998)
Ealing Council is warning residents to check that anyone they employ to remove rubbish has a valid waste carriers licence.
Rogue traders who take cash from residents for removing items such as building rubble, old bathroom and kitchen fittings, garden waste and unwanted furniture and then fly-tip their load could land their customers with a hefty fine.
Under Waste Regulations* 2005 a court can levy a fine of up to £5000 on residents convicted of using un-licensed waste carrier.
By law all businesses transporting waste must be registered and carry a licence from the Environment Agency. They also need to carry a waste transfer note, which gives a written description of the waste and shows where the waste is from and where it is going.
These regulations are designed to reduce the thousands of tonnes of fly-tip dumped in the UK each year.
As part of Ealing Council’s war on fly-tipping Envirocrime officers have joined forces with the Environment Agency and the Police to carry out spot checks on vehicles thought be carrying waste illegally.
Those found not to have a valid waste carrier’s licence or waste transfer notes are being given fixed penalty notices or reported for prosecution.
Ongoing spot checks have been arranged as part of regular Council organised Partnership Taskforce Days that rotate across the borough to improve community safety and reduce envirocrime.
The Environment Agency has set up an online waste carrier register where registered waste carriers, other than the local council, can now be found. Visit www2.environment-agency.gov.uk/epr/search.asp to find local businesses that are registered.
Anyone using a private waste carrier should check the register, or call the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506.
Cllr Will Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Services, said: “If we are going to eradicate fly-tipping off the borough’s streets we need to tackle it from every angle. We are asking residents to quickly check that the company they are using is registered with the Environment Agency.
“Nobody wants to pay for a service that is not provided and worse that could end up blighting their own community.
“If residents only employ registered waste carriers and we increase enforcement we can drive professional fly-tippers out of business.”
Notes to editors:
* Household Waste Duty of Care (England and Wales) 2005.
The picture attached shows the contents of a van illegally
carrying waste caught by Ealing Council’s spot checks in the last
couple of weeks. The van was full of waste but the driver did
not have a waste carrier's licence or waste transfer notes. The
trader accepted and paid two Fixed Penalty Notices for £300
each. The legislation that covers these offences is:
Failure to produce a Waste Carriers Licence, S34
Environmental Protection Act 1990 Failure to produce Waste Transfer
Notes, S5B Control of Pollution Act 1989.
Ealing Council has three top priorities – cleaner streets, safer communities and value for money services.
ENDS