Sefton Council is once again reminding residents of their responsibilities when hiring people to dispose of their household and garden waste, even if disposal is an added part of a service.

Illegally dumped rubbish, otherwise known as fly-tipping, can become a serious health and safety problem if not tackled quickly.

Illegally dumped

Last week, Council officers were alerted to a significant amount of waste left at a former car park in Kew, Southport.

Not only will the clearance of the waste prove immensely costly to the council, it could also see some residents end up with hefty fines.

It’s thought likely that the rubbish has been dumped there by people posing as waste removal operatives, or gardening and tree cutting contractors, having gone door to door throughout the area to seek out cash-in-hand jobs.

While the offer of clearing rubbish for a small fee may be tempting, many residents are unaware that they could be responsible if that waste is eventually dumped illegally.

Should the rubbish be traced back to an unsuspecting resident, they could be fined up to £400.

Incredibly disappointed

Peter Moore, Head of Public Protection and Highways at Sefton Council said: “We are incredibly disappointed to see the mess that has been left at Kew.

"The money spent on cleaning up this mess could have been spent elsewhere for the benefit of our communities.

“Many residents hire third parties to take away household or garden waste and large bulky items from their properties. Contractors will be aware of the rules and regulations that cover these types of waste disposal, but many people hiring them may not be.

"Even if the culprits for this act are not found, if the waste is traced back to a specific resident or business, they could be the ones facing the financial penalties."

Responsible checks

There are a number of things people should do to avoid unscrupulous individuals. These include ensuring that the individual or firm is registered with the Environment Agency as an official waste carrier and avoiding accepting random doorstep collections from individuals or firms.

People should also obtain and keep the name and address and vehicle details of the individual or firm who dispose of their waste and ask for a proper invoice or receipt.

It is also advisable to get more than one quote and expect to pay a reasonable fee.

Licensed

Peter added: “When hiring a contractor, you can ask to see the license issued by the Environment Agency. Alternatively, you can call the agency directly on 03708 506 506 or check on their website.

“Make sure to keep hold of their details to show that you acted responsibly in case your rubbish is fly-tipped.

“If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is and, if fines are applied, could end up being an expensive mistake.”

Anyone who sees an incident of fly-tipping can us this link to report it on the Sefton Council website.

You can also report fly-tipping by calling 0345 140 0845.