Solihull Council is reminding residents that before they accept an offer from a tradesperson to remove waste from their property, they need to check that they are a registered waste carrier to avoid paying a fixed penalty notice if their waste is fly-tipped.
Regulatory Services have investigated several recent incidents where residents have been fined because their household waste has been collected but then fly-tipped by an unlicensed waste carrier. The Council is raising awareness that as a householder, you have a legal obligation (duty of care) to ensure that your waste is disposed of properly.
This means that householders are responsible for checking that anyone who offers to remove and dispose of waste is a registered waste carrier. You can do this by asking for their registration number and checking their details via the Environment Agency’s public register, which can be found here: https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
By checking that your waste carrier is officially on the public register, you’re doing your part to ensure you won’t get caught out by unlicensed carriers who may illegally dump your waste.
Councillor Wazma Qais, Cabinet Member for Communities & Leisure, said:
“We want to make sure that householders in Solihull know what they need to do to prevent their waste from being dumped illegally. Don’t be afraid to ask your waste carrier for details of their registration and check the public register to ensure your waste will be disposed of correctly. Always ask for a proper invoice and receipt, and never accept unsolicited offers to have waste taken away.”
Solihull Council offers a bulky waste collection service for large household items that need to be disposed of. You can book a collection via the website: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/Rubbish-and-recycling/Bulky-waste-collection, where you will also find the terms and conditions and a list of unacceptable items.
For more information about waste disposal in Solihull, including details about Bickenhill Household Waste Recycling Centre, visit our ‘Rubbish and Recycling’ webpage.