Beware rogue traders who may be fly-tipping your waste

Any residents who pay for their waste to be taken away privately are being warned to look out for rogue traders who may be fly-tipping it instead.

All businesses who offer a ‘trip to the tip’ service must have a Waste Carrier Licence that they’ve obtained from Natural Resources Wales.

It is a resident’s responsibility to ensure that they know where their waste is going. If their bin bags end up being dumped somewhere and can be traced back to their address then they could face a hefty fine while any trader found to be fly-tipping will also face prosecution.

Residents are perfectly entitled to pay for their waste to be disposed of privately, but never hand your waste over to a company for disposal without making the proper checks as you never know where your waste may end up and you will be liable for it.

Whilst most of these businesses do manage their waste correctly, we want to ensure that everyone understands their legal responsibilities. There are a number of things that you should consider to make sure you are not using a rogue trader and your waste is being managed within the law. To keep yourself safe, you should ask for their waste carrier registration number before you transfer your waste to them, and then check the number by either visiting the Natural Resources Wales website or giving them a call.

Environmental crime is a serious offence so please make sure you do the right thing with your waste.”

Councillor Hywel Williams, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader

The warning comes as the council steps up its efforts to crack down on a fly tipping hot spot – Jubilee Crescent in Sarn.

The area has been targeted by fly tippers in recent months due to the fact that households have historically had their bin bags picked up from communal collection points, making it easy for dodgy individuals from outside the area to drive by and add their bin bags to any large piles they see.

To tackle the problem, 114 houses in Jubilee Crescent, Tyn-y-Coed, Queens Avenue and Merfield Close have all now changed to kerbside collections.

Councillor Williams added: “There has been a problem in the Jubilee Crescent area with rubbish being regularly dumped there. We want to clean it up, discourage fly tipping, and residents are equally keen.

“Older residents there have already told us how much they prefer the new arrangements as they don’t have to walk so far carrying all of their waste. They’re pleased to have their waste collected from outside their properties instead and are also happy to accept the challenge of recycling more and cutting down their waste to meet the two bin bag limit each fortnight.”

The new collection arrangements will also be introduced for the 50 flats in Jubilee Crescent later this year.

You can find out more about recycling in Bridgend County Borough on the councils website.