main content Duty of care extends to householders

Householders could now face fines of up to £5,000 if rubbish which has been taken away but dumped illegally is traced back to them. The new legislation aims to reduce the amount of household waste being fly tipped each year and makes householders responsible for ensuring their rubbish is only disposed of by authorised waste carriers.

“We spent in excess of £80,000 last year clearing fly tipping from our streets. If we all made sure that our bulky goods or waste is disposed of by a licensed waster carrier, there would be less fly tipping. But from now, the law makes householders responsible - so check. Householders risk fines unless they are certain their rubbish will be removed by an authorised source, legally and safely - instead of being fly tipped in a quiet street or footpath” said Councillor George Taylor, Executive Councillor for the Environment.

Before allowing household, garden or building waste to be removed by somebody other than the Council, residents are advised to:

• ask the person removing the waste - such as a builder - if they are a registered waste carrier and ask to see their certificate. If they are not registered, refuse the service;
• check claims of registration by telephoning the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506 and request an Instant Waste Carrier Validation Check or go to the Environment Agency website;
• report suspicious operators charging to take waste away, to either the Environment Agency or the Council on 020 8313 4557.

Anyone witnessing fly tipping in progress, is advised to call the police immediately on 999. Each incident of fly tipping is investigated by the Council and offenders are prosecuted whenever possible. A reward of up to £500 could be given under the Council’s Enviro-Crime Reward Scheme for information leading to the successful prosecution of fly tippers or other enviro-crime offenders. Call the Customer Service Centre with your information or reports of dumped rubbish on 020 8313 4557.

All household waste can be disposed of free of charge at either of the borough’s reuse and recycling centres at Waldo Road, Bromley or Churchfields Road, Beckenham. For residents who are unable to visit one of the centres, the Council operates a chargeable bulky waste collection service. Further information can be obtained by calling 020 8313 4557.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• The Waste (Household Waste Duty of Care) Regulations 2005 amends the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to extend the duty of care, in respect of waste, to householders.
• The new legislation came into force on 21 November 2005.

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.