Campaign to tackle menace of fly-tipping in Essex

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