Resident fined £600 after unlicensed waste carrier fly-tipped their rubbish on Northamptonshire farmland
A resident has been fined £600 after an unlicensed waster carrier fly-tipped their rubbish on farmland in a Northamptonshire village.
According to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), the resident arranged for the waste to be removed through Facebook Marketplace, paid in cash and did not check if the carrier was licensed. The carrier then fly-tipped the rubbish on farmland in Weedon.
The council investigated the case and issued a fixed penalty notice after the resident was found to be “failing in the duty of care to ensure their waste was handled properly”.
The resident, who cannot be named as the payment of a fixed penalty discharges their liability of the offence, also had to pay to have the waste removed from the farmland and disposed of legally.
Councillor Andrew Last, Cabinet Member for HR, Corporate and Regulatory Services, said: “This case shows how easy it is to get caught out, even when you are trying to do the right thing.
“If you use an unlicensed carrier, your waste could be dumped illegally and you could face a fine. The good news is a few simple checks can protect you and help keep our communities clean.”
The action comes just weeks after a warning from the council over risks of using unlicensed rubbish collectors.
WNC’s advice for waste collections
- Check the person or company is a registered waste carrier
- Ask to see their licence and note vehicle details
- Get a waste transfer note
- Avoid cash-only payments
- Be cautious of social media adverts – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is