Campaign launched to tackle waste crime

The Environment Agency has launched a Duty of Care campaign to help combat waste crime and to encourage people to take responsibility over what happens to their waste.

It follows an increase across Lancashire in the number of incidents of fly tipping on public and private land.

The campaign has included a crackdown on the illegal movement of waste in Lancashire with rogue traders targeted in three county wide multi-Agency roadside stop checks. It saw officers from the Environment Agency, Lancashire Police, Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Border Agency stopped vehicles known or suspected to be carrying waste.

The campaign also encourages householders to do their bit, with incidents of fly-tipping of household waste becoming more frequent.

Householders have a Duty of Care to check that anyone taking away their waste is registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency. This includes hired builders and contractors who offer to take the waste away as part of their service.

Checks include making sure the carrier is registered, which can be done online: www.gov.uk/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information

Residents should be especially wary of anyone who offers to charge less than the going rate, which would currently be about £200 to hire a skip. And the Environment Agency warns that if a person illegally dumps waste they have collected from your house and you have not made any checks then you could be prosecuted and face an unlimited fine.”

It is also warning landowners to be vigilant as waste criminals are approaching landowners and businesses and dumping waste in warehouses, industrial units and some open spaces leaving the clean up to the unsuspecting landowner.

Also small businesses are urged to make sure that those who use waste services should make sure that all waste is handled by a legitimate company that is complying with the law.

Councillor Jackie Oakes, Portfolio Holder for Operations at Rossendale Borough Council, said:

“I would like to congratulate the Environment Agency for publicising this important message. Fly tipping is a problem for many of our residents who contact us regularly about it. Not only is it unsightly, can attract vermin and cause other issues it takes up a significant amount of the Council’s resources in terms of clearing up after the offenders and tracking down the culprits, which would be better spent on other things.”

For more information visit www.rightwasterightplace.com