Fly-tipping is a major issue in the UK, costing more than £100m each year so steps have put in place to try to eradicate it, the main one being the introduction of the waste carrier licence in 2014.
Governed by the Environment Agency (EA), the aim of the licence is to create a database of any business who operates by transporting and disposing of waste on behalf of any third party. A business can register by paying the fee and completing the application form on the EA website. Once a business has been registered they will the be assigned a waste carrier licence number and identification cards. They will then be regulated and authorised by the EA. The registration lasts 3 years with the option to renew after this time.
Anyone caught transporting waste that is not their own without being a registered waste carrier is liable for criminal prosecution, which in many cases, includes a fine and seizure of the vehicle. Any legal place of disposal will always require proof of a waste carrier licence before accepting waste. Therefore if a waste carrier is not licensed then it is a clear indication that not only are they working illegally but that they are almost certainly disposing of the waste unlawfully eg fly tipping. As a customer ignorance is not a valid excuse. If a contractor who is removing waste from your property does not have a valid waste carrier licence you will be prosecuted and are likely to be fined accordingly.
You can check the company you are using has a valid waste carrier licence here. https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
Or by calling them on 08708 506506.
You can report fly-tipping incidents here https://www.gov.uk/report-flytipping
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