Thursday 5th December, 2024

Campaign to tackle menace of fly-tipping in Essex

8/10/18 About 1 minute
On Monday 8 October, Love Essex, a partnership of Essex councils and businesses, is re-launching its #CrimeNotToCare campaign to remind residents they could be adding to the fly-tipping problem, if they don't comply with their duty of care to keep their waste out of the hands of rogue traders.

By carrying out the correct checks before handing your waste (anything from a sofa, black bags, mattresses, fridge freezers or building waste) to someone else to get rid of, will reduce the chance of it being fly-tipped.

Councillor Malcolm Sismey, Cabinet Member for Waste Management and Recycling at Chelmsford City Council said:

"Fly-tipping across Essex is costing taxpayers' money to clear up - money that could have been better spent on vital services. Fly-tipping is a selfish way to dispose of waste, blighting our environment and we want to remind residents who are having a house clearance to check that they are using a legitimate company who is disposing of their waste correctly.

If you give your waste to someone else and it's dumped, you could end up with an unlimited fine and a criminal record."

During the course of 2017-18, a total number of 20,567 fly-tips were scattered across the county. In Chelmsford alone, there were 902 fly-tips reported.

Over the past year, residents have been prosecuted because fly-tipped waste has been traced back to them.

Last month, one man in Loughton was fined £1560 in prosecution costs and fines after pleading guilty to failing his household waste duty of care at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.

There are some easy checks you can carry out to ensure you protect yourself and the environment:

1. If you use a trader to remove your waste ask to see their Waste Carriers Registration Number issued by the Environment Agency

Ask for their waste carrier number and vehicle details and contact the Environment Agency for a free instant waste carrier check.

2. Ensure that you receive a transfer notice or receipt before your waste is taken away

3. Check where your waste is going


Being a registered waste carrier means the person can legally remove your rubbish, but you still need to check what is going to happen to it.

A legitimate waste carrier should not object to you asking these questions.

4. Protect yourself by taking care with your waste

Make a note of who you have given your waste to, their waste carrier details and vehicle details.

You should never leave any waste such as an old washing machine or scrap metal on your drive or in the street for someone to remove. They may not be a registered waste carrier, and could take the bits they need and dump the rest.

You can donate good quality items to your local reuse organisation or charity shop , or give items to someone who could make use of them.

Protect yourself and help keep our county clean and green. Love Essex - it's a Crime not to care!

Visithttp://loveessex.org for further advice


Recent Articles

Over 200 arrests made for drink and drug driving offences in December
Over 200 arrests made for drink and drug driving offences in December

Essex Roads Policing Officers have made 126 arrests on suspicion of driving whilst over the alcohol limit, made 95 arrests for drug driving offences and 36 arrests for failure to provide.

When are Junior Doctors striking in Chelmsford?
When are Junior Doctors striking in Chelmsford?

Junior doctors at all major hospitals in the mid and south Essex area are scheduled to strike for three days, starting at 7am on Wednesday, 20 December, and ending at 7am on Saturday, 23 December.

How to contact Chelmsford City Council over Christmas and New Year
How to contact Chelmsford City Council over Christmas and New Year

Here's how to contact Chelmsford City Council over the busy festive period.

Events

Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year's Eve Concert
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year's Eve Concert

Siegmund in Richard Wagner’s Walküre is a signature role for Jonas Kaufmann. The world-renowned tenor is passionate, radiant and combative in his portrayal of the tragic hero at the centre of a love triangle.

Chelmsford Half Marathon - March 2024
Chelmsford Half Marathon - March 2024

Chelmsford Half Marathon / Race Weekend is the major road closed running event in Chelmsford, Essex.

The start and finish is at Anglia Ruskin University, outside the Student Union Building.

Post Office Scandal: The Inside Story
Post Office Scandal: The Inside Story

Journalist and Broadcaster Nick Wallis tells the true story of how hundreds of innocent people fought to clear their names after being pursued by the Post Office through the criminal courts.

Ria Lina: Riawakening
Ria Lina: Riawakening

In her debut tour, Ria tackles the issues of coming out of a global pandemic, divorce, dating in a new digital world, motherhood and what it really means to be a woman.