Op Assist November 2019

Waste carriers were targeted last week as part of a day of action to crackdown on fly tipping. Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to carry out enquiries, arrest people suspected of fly tipping, seize vehicles and collate evidence with a view to prosecuting offenders for waste related crimes. Outcomes of the day were:

• 3 vehicles seized;
• 5 vehicles stopped and searched; and
• 2 Fixed Penalty Notices issued;

Martyn Cassell, head of commissioning, environment and leisure at the council, said:

“We are pleased to be part of this cross-organisation effort to crack down on fly-tipping across the borough.
 
“We urge anybody disposing of household items to use a licenced waste carrier who will dispose of the goods properly, and not criminals who are unlicensed and likely to dump rubbish on the side of the road. Not only is this unsafe, but it makes the borough an eyesore for everybody who lives here.”

More and more of these action days are taking place across the County. A tremendous amount of preparation takes place ahead of these days, including the gathering of vital intelligence to support the Council’s Enforcement team with their duties.

What can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?

Fly tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste. However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste where ever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes. Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being issued with fixed penalty notices (FPN) that go up to £400 per offence. Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.

To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website below, or alternatively call 03708 506506. It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

The 13 Kent councils, along with Kent Police, are working in partnership to Keep Kent Clean. To keep updated with the councils’ efforts to tackle fly tipping and littering, follow #KeepKentClean.