Wiltshire Council aiming to tackle fly tipping 'at source'
The Council is reminding us we could be liable for a fine if we pay someone to collect waste and it's then dumped illegally
Last updated 25th Jul 2024
A new campaign across Wiltshire aims to tackle flytipping 'at source' by targeting those carrying rubbish in the first place.
The Council is reminding us we could be liable for a fine if we pay someone to collect waste and it's then dumped illegally.
Stop at Source (SAS) aims to make people aware of their ‘duty of care’ when they’re getting rid of their waste, particularly if they’re handing it to someone who will take it away for them, such as people who advertise ‘tip runs’ in social media groups.
If rubbish isn't disposed of properly by the person they give their waste to, it's in fact the householder who could be liable to pay a £600 fine - and they could even be prosecuted.
Anyone who gives their waste to someone else can help to protect themselves and Stop at Source by remembering three simple things:
- Check the waste carriers licence of the people taking the rubbish away
- Take their vehicle registration and details
- Get a receipt
If the waste is dumped, the householder could then give council officers this information, which would then mean that the person who dumped the waste is liable for prosecution, rather than the householder.
Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, said: “Our award-winning We’re Targeting Fly-tippers (WTF) campaign has already taken great strides forward in reducing fly-tipping in Wiltshire and we are catching and prosecuting more offenders than ever before.
“However, we want to build on this through the Stop at Source (SAS) campaign, which warns people of the dangers of giving their rubbish to people who advertise ‘tip runs’ without taking the necessary steps to protect themselves.
“People need to know that if their rubbish is fly-tipped by another person, they could be issued with a fixed penalty notice or prosecuted. However, by checking the waste carriers licence, taking the vehicle details and getting a receipt, they are helping to protect themselves and are helping to Stop at Source.
“Everyone should be very wary of giving their rubbish to people who advertise tip runs – especially in social media groups – as these people can – and do – dump rubbish in our beautiful countryside. Even some licensed collectors have fly-tipped waste, so it is vital that people check vehicle details and get a receipt.”
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in Wiltshire, and with the help of our communities, we can Stop at Source.”
To find out more about fly-tipping prevention and to report it, check out the Wiltshire Council website.