Toggle menu

Council reminds people to dispose of their waste responsibly this Christmas

With the Christmas period usually generating a higher volume of waste, Wiltshire Council is reminding people to dispose of their waste responsibly.

Published 20 December 2024
Fly-tipped waste found in Flisteridge Wood, Upper Minety

The council's Stop at Source (SAS) campaign is designed to raise awareness of people's 'duty of care' when getting rid of their waste, particularly if it is given to someone else to take it away, such as people who advertise 'tip runs' in social media groups. If the waste is subsequently fly-tipped, the original householder could be liable for a fixed penalty or prosecution. In the same way, if waste that has been given to a relative or neighbour to dispose of or take to a household resource centre, is instead fly-tipped, then the original homeowner would be liable. 

The timely reminder comes after multiple Wiltshire residents were recently issued with Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £600 after giving their waste to unlicensed waste collectors who then fly-tipped the waste around the county.

All together £4,200 worth of fixed penalties were issued to seven residents around Wiltshire, including a Swindon resident who waste was found fly-tipped in Flisteridge Wood, Upper Minety, a Frome resident whose household waste was found on Penleigh Farm in Dilton Marsh and two Bristol residents, both of whose waste was found on Naish Hill in Lacock.

People can protect themselves by remembering three simple things:

  1. Check the waste carriers' licence of the people taking the rubbish away and note down the waste carriers licence number.
  2. Take their vehicle registration and details.
  3. 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, Street Scene and Flooding, said: We know that we can sometimes experience higher incidents of fly-tipping over the Christmas period as people can generate more waste, and that's why we're keen to make people aware of the correct process to follow when considering the use of a waste clearance service to avoid being fined or prosecuted.

We want to remind everyone that in order to avoid rogue traders, to please check that they have a valid waste carrier licence, to note down their vehicle registration details and to get a receipt. This is the best way people can ensure that they are protecting themselves from being investigated or fined.

Our message is clear - We're Targeting Fly-tippers in Wiltshire and we will take action against anyone who dumps waste in our beautiful county.

To find out more about fly-tipping and how to report it, people should go to: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.

Explore the topic
Topics:

Share this page

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by email