SINCE the introduction of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, businesses have had a legal obligation to ensure that their waste is disposed of responsibly.
The system has a certain degree of self-policing since it would not be in a legitimate company's best interest to pass waste onto a "cowboy" operator that may fly-tip the waste, incinerate it or illegally bury it without measures to ensure that no en
vironmental harm is caused.
In 2005, Duty of Care for waste was extended to householders by requiring them to take reasonable measures to ensure that their waste is passed on to an authorised person.
These powers were introduced to try to combat commercial fly-tipping by illegal waste carriers.
Extending Duty of Care to householders acknowledged the part that they have to play in ensuring that waste is dealt with responsibly and not fly-tipped.
Householders found guilty of passing flytipped waste to an unlicensed carrier could face a fine of up to £5,000.
As a householder, it is very easy to check whether a company will legitimately deal with your waste.
Obtain two or three quotes before engaging a contractor to remove your old three-piece suite, tree cuttings or any other bulky waste. If you get a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is!
The telephone number to ring to establish if a contractor does hold a current waste carrier licence is 08708 506506, or you can check online at www2.environment-agency.gov.uk/epr/?lang=_e
Of course, councils offer their own bulky household waste collection service, and residents can then be assured that they are acting within the law.
Adur and Worthing residents can ring 01903 851729 to arrange a bulky household waste collection.
