Burgess Hill electrical waste dumped on Wolstonbury Hill

The example pictured of fly tipping this week on a footpath leading to Wolstonbury Hill highlights the criminal activity of a small minority of contractors, in this case leaving delivery notes to two addresses in Burgess Hill.  However this also extends to those whose waste it is, everyone has a legal ‘duty of care’ to ensure their household or business waste is disposed of correctly. You could be prosecuted even if your waste is fly tipped by someone else on your behalf.  Most people act responsibly but remember fly tipping can be classed as any instance of leaving unwanted items e.g.: beside street bins and recycling banks, in communal bin areas, outside closed recycling centres and charity shops, as well as on roads, paths and in the countryside.

If it is on public land the Council will take action to remove but often it can be the landowners themselves who are left to pick up the bill of removing, and local wildlife and farm animals put in danger from dumped rubbish.

Everyone has a legal ‘duty of care’ to ensure household or business waste is disposed of correctly. You can be prosecuted even if your waste is fly tipped by someone else on your behalf.  Most people act responsibly but remember fly tipping can be classed as leaving items: beside street bins and recycling banks on the floor of communal bin areas, outside closed recycling centres and charity shops, on roads, paths and in the countryside.

What can we do

Suspect all waste carriers – don’t let them take your rubbish until they provide proof of registration and note their vehicle’s registration plate. This also applies to building and electrical contractors who take away their own waste.

Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency’s website.

Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away.

Ask how your rubbish will be disposed of – seek evidence of this.

Paperwork must be obtained – a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details.

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