Cowboy traders could cost you dear

BARNSLEY 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 the Household Waste Duty of Care (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, a court can impose a fine of up to £5,000 on residents convicted of using an unlicensed 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.  Barnsley Council spends £225, 000 each year clearing tipped waste from its own land and significant costs also fall to private landowners.

As part of the Council’s war on flytipping, officers from Regulatory Services have joined forces with 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.

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 Roy Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Customer Service and Neighbourhoods, said: “If we are going to eradicate fly-tipping from 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.”

ENDS

Issued by press office, 01226 773375, email: pressoffice@barnsley.gov.uk