Waste management company Biffa has urged people to not make a simple mistake when disposing of their rubbish
A general image taken by the ECHO of fly tipping near West Derby Road (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Residents and business owners in Liverpool have been warned they could be fined hundreds of pounds if their rubbish is illegally dumped by rogue waste operators. The warning from waste management company Biffa comes after the government announced this week a fresh purge on waste crime and fly-tipping.
Biffa estimates up to 34 million tonnes of waste are disposed of illegally every year in the UK – costing local authorities £1bn to clean up. The crackdown announced by environment secretary Steve Reed on April 30 means rogue operators who dump waste illegally could have their vehicles crushed – and face up to five years in prison.
But households and businesses in Liverpool – an area long plagued by fly-tipping – could be fined up to £600 by their local council if it’s their waste that’s dumped. Some of the most common fly-tipped items include fridges, freezers, mattresses, and sofas, along with building waste like carpets, bricks, and wooden off-cuts.
Carla Brian, Biffa’s head of partnerships, said: “The government’s announcement encouraging councils to get tougher with waste criminals is a welcome move for communities across the UK experiencing the blight of fly-tipping.
“Over the bank holiday weekend, many people will be clearing out their sheds, garages, lofts, and outbuildings ready for summer. But whether you’re a business owner or a householder, you must ensure that any waste collected from your property is handled by a legitimate operator and complies with the relevant legal requirements.
“Our checklist can help you take a diligent approach to proper waste management to mitigate risks of fines. By doing so, you are also supporting the efforts against illegal waste activity and its devastating environmental and social impact.”
Biffa’s four-point checklist to ensure people only hire legitimate waste operators includes:
Are they authorised to carry waste?
Ensure that your provider is legally registered to collect your waste. Ask to see their authorisation or search the public register online.
Do they have a waste transfer note detail?
A waste carrier must complete a Waste Transfer Note when removing waste from a home or a business. This ensures a clear audit trail from when the waste is produced until it is disposed.
Where is the waste going?
Your waste supplier is responsible for transporting your waste to an authorised recycling, recovery, or disposal facility. Ask them for transparency on the destination of your waste.
Is there documentation for certain hazardous substances?
Even if a waste operator has a license and a valid transfer note, they need additional licenses to carry certain types of waste, such as some paints, batteries, and oils, which are subject to hazardous waste regulations and require specific paperwork.
Speaking earlier this year, Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods, and streetscene, said: “Fly-tipping is an ugly and hazardous act. Liverpool is a fantastic city that we should all be proud to live in, but it’s clear that a small minority has no respect for our streets.
“In the past year, we’ve cleared over 20,000 instances of illegally dumped waste, many of which have been reported by concerned residents. We know that fly-tipping is unsightly and can harm the environment, so a lot of time and resources are committed to cleaning it up quickly.
“The time and money we’ve spent on doing this could have been used on improving our city rather than having to fix a problem that selfish people have created. Residents have said to us that this is a major issue, and we agree. We’ve already taken significant steps internally by hiring more enforcement officers, and the next step is to expand our operations through an external partner.