Joint Council and Police operation run in Redbridge to crack down on potential fly tippers

Redbridge Council joined forces with the Police recently to run an operation targeting vehicles transporting waste in a bid to weed out potential fly-tippers.

Under the joint operation commercial vehicles carrying waste were stopped to identify rogue waste removal services transporting waste in the borough without the relevant waste carrier licences and associated documentation.

All businesses transporting and disposing of waste in England have to be registered with the Environment Agency and have a valid Waste Carriers Licence – a legal requirement designed to discourage fly-tipping.

The joint operation comes as several fly-tips in Redbridge were found to be dumped by illegally operating waste removal services. Instead of responsibly disposing of the waste they had been hired to remove, the rogue operators ended up dumping it on the borough’s streets instead.

The two-hour operation in High Road Seven Kings earlier this month (April) saw Redbridge Enforcement Officers make checks on vehicles transporting waste to ensure it would be disposed of properly, rather than being dumped on the street. It resulted in large fines totalling £2,700 for those who were stopped and failed to produce their Waste Carriers Licence.

Police Officers also checked stopped vehicles were roadworthy and drivers had all the necessary documentation.

The operation was also run in Cambridge Park and Dangan Road in Wanstead in late March and resulted in two commercial vehicles found to be removing waste illegally without a valid Waste Carriers Licence. Both were given a notice to produce their documents and failure to do so will result in a £300 each.

Robin Payne, Redbridge Council’s Operational Director for Civic Pride, said: “We want to send a message, loud and clear, that illegally operating waste removal services are not welcome or tolerated in Redbridge and we won’t hesitate to use the full weight of the law against those caught fly-tipping in the borough.”

As part of the crackdown on rogue waste removal services, the council is also reminding Redbridge householders and businesses of the requirement to ensure anyone hired to remove waste from their property is authorised to do so with the correct Waste Carriers Licence.

If hiring a private contractor to remove household, garden, or construction waste remember to:

• Check the individual or company being hired is registered with the Environment Agency and has a valid Waste Carriers Licence. This can be done on: https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

You can check using either their registration number, business name, or postcode, or call the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506.

• Do research to find out if they are a genuine and reputable company or individual
• Check where they are proposing to take your waste
• Record the registration number of any vehicle removing waste from your home
• Pay by cheque, card or bank transfer as payments can be traced if the waste is fly tipped. If they insist on cash refuse their service
• Request a waste transfer note and a receipt for their service and keep it as proof.

(ENDS)