Introduction

Fly-tipping is a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment. It is a threat to health, wildlife and Somerset’s landscape and environment, as well as a cost to tax payers.

Somerset Council is responsible for dealing with fly-tipping on public land. Tackling fly-tipping on private land is the responsibility of the landowner.

Actions can include warning letters, fixed penalty notices and prosecutions. Convicted fly-tippers can face fines of up to £50,000 in magistrates’ court and unlimited fines in higher courts.

We can all help fight fly-tipping and help catch offenders.

Every individual and business has a duty of care over their waste, to ensure waste is disposed of properly, even after it has left their home or premises.

Report fly tipping

To report an issue you need to be registered for a My Account. This will save you having to re-enter information and allow you to track the progress of the report. Gather as much information as possible before completing our online report form. You will be asked to sign up for, or sign in to, your account before completing the form.

Do not remove anything from the waste.

If you have found:

• Waste near or in a watercourse
• More than 5m3 of fibrous asbestos
• More than 75 litres of potentially hazardous waste in drums or containers
• or more than 20 tonnes of waste

contact the Environment Agency.

Simple steps

• Never fly-tip yourself
• Never pay cash
• Check that any waste carrier has the right licence and ask them where the waste will go
• Get a proper receipt and a copy of the “waste transfer note”
• Record names, contact details and vehicle information
• Take particular care in using social media to get waste removed

If you know about those who fly-tip, inform Somerset Council immediately.

If you see fly-tipping take no risks. Do not touch anything fly-tipped or approach fly-tippers, but when it is safe, please contact Somerset Council with details, such as:

• Amount fly-tipped and possible contents from a visual check only
• Location, time and date
• Whether in or near water
• Information about those who may be responsible, such as vehicle type, colour and registration number

Waste carrier licences

If you or your business pay someone to take your waste away – whether by man-with-a-van or a tradesperson – it is important to check if they have a waste carrier’s licence, and to ask where your waste will go.

You can check they are registered as a ‘waste carrier, broker or dealer’ with the Environment Agency online or phone 03708 506 506.

Rogue traders

Among those who fly-tip are rogue tradespeople who dump the waste from their work, defrauding customers who think it has been correctly removed, undercutting legitimate businesses, and making council tax payers pay the clear-up costs.

You can report fly-tipping anonymously, but your evidence could be vital to ensure a fly-tipper is caught and convicted. Just knowing that someone is prepared to give evidence may convince an offender to admit their guilt.

Waste removal options

Furniture, mattress or white goods that have got to go

If you cannot get your items to a recycling site (there are not charges for household waste), one option is an at-cost no-profit no-risk bulky waste council collection.

If you have just a cooker, fridge, freezer, fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher or TV, AO charges £20 per item.

One-off garden waste clearance

You can order ten garden waste sacks with free collection for £31.10. Order, pay and book garden sack collections.

Furniture reuse groups

Recycling is great, but reuse is even better. There are three groups in Somerset helping local people in need get free or affordable, essential items – they will often collect them for free in their local areas.

• Engage Furniture Reuse Project in Alcombe, Minehead (serves West Somerset area)
• Furnitrust in Taunton (serves former Taunton Deane area)
• Fair Frome Furniture Bank (serves Frome, BA11 and surrounding villages).

All accept various types of furniture and some electrical appliances in good working condition.

Items must be clean and in good working condition. Upholstered furniture needs appropriate fire labels, and TVs and DVD players need the remote control and instructions.

For full details and contacts visit Pass it on