Householder's Responsibility

If your rubbish is fly-tipped, possibly ending up in a field or lay-by, you could face a fine of up to £5,000. Even if you didn't dump the waste yourself!

Householders have a responsibility to know where their waste ends up. We'll help guide you through the pitfalls.

All householders in England are responsible, under Duty of Care regulations on waste, to ensure their rubbish is disposed of by authorised carriers only.

Householders not taking reasonable measures to do this could face fines of up to £5,000.

This legislation forms part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act. It aims to reduce the thousands of tonnes of household waste being fly-tipped each year.

In 2004/05, there were 500,000 fly-tips of household rubbish, much of which was dumped by operators posing as legitimate waste carriers.

Fly-tippers rely on people not asking questions, and not checking for registration. Now all householders have a responsibility to ask questions to check.

Rogue waste carriers can make huge sums of money by charging to take household rubbish away illegally.

However, if rubbish dumped is traced back to the household it came from, the householder could be fined.

To ensure you use a registered waste carrier, the Environment Agency has set up an online register detailing certified companies.

Plus, when talking to companies, ask for their registration number. This can be validated by you online instantly using the Environment Agency's Public Register. If no number is given, refuse the service.

Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRS)

All household waste can still be disposed of at local Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRS) free of charge.

Residents unable to take bulky waste to the HWRS themselves, can use our collection service, although a charge is applied.

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Householder's Responsibility

Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRS)