What does this mean to you?
The Duty of Care is a Law, which says that you must take all
reasonable steps to keep waste safe. This applies to both
domestic and commercial rubbish. If you give waste to someone else,
i.e. if you have a builder working in your home and they are
responsible for taking away your old kitchen or bathroom fittings,
you must ensure they are authorised to take it and can transport,
recycle or dispose of it safely and correctly.
What is controlled waste?
It is household, commercial or industrial waste. It can be
from a house, school, hospital, shop, office, factory or any other
trade or business. It may be solid or liquid, scrap metal or
a scrap car. It does not have to be hazardous or toxic to be
controlled waste.
Keeping waste safely
The waste must be packed in suitable containers so that it
cannot fall out, blow away or escape from the receptacle. You must
secure the waste against unauthorised removal as far as is
reasonably practical. Security should be sufficient to prevent the
breaking open of containers and removal of waste by vandals,
thieves, animals, accident or weather. Waste must be protected and
stored in order to prevent it from escaping its container.
People who leave side waste or excess and/or allow bins
to overflow into any location could face a fine under the
Environmental Protection Act. For advice relating to use of
household bins use the following link bins.
Registered waste carriers
Most carriers of waste have to be registered
with the Environment Agency. Some licences are only valid for
certain kinds of waste or certain activities. Check that the
licence covers your kind of waste. Use the
Environment Agency Register to check the waste carrier
information.
What action does the council take against offenders?
- Fixed penalty notices are served for both domestic and
commercial offences
- Warning notices are served
- Formal cautions are issued
- Prosecutions will be made
Please contact our environmental enforcement team if you require
any further advice.