Environment Agency cracks down on illegal waste
carriers
The Environment Agency has warned that all individuals carrying
waste as part of a business enterprise with a view to making a
profit must have a licence.
Following joint investigations between the Environment Agency
and Avon, Somerset and Dorset police, two illegal waste carriers
have been caught transporting rubbish.
One man was found removing scrap metal from a skip within the
grounds of a primary school without permission. He was then
delivering the metal to a scrap yard in Avonmouth and was found to
have done so on 21 separate occasions, dropping off more than
£2,000 worth.
Another man was found transporting a large quantity of scrap
metal, including farm machinery and iron frames. He had charged a
nearby farmer £50 to remove the waste.
Neither of the men were registered as waste carriers. Andy King
from the Environment Agency said, “All businesses that carry waste,
including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners,
must have a waste carrier's licence.
“They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork for
all the waste they carry, and only use licensed waste sites to
dispose of their rubbish. Hopefully, these cases and fines will
help get the message across that anyone caught illegally
transporting waste will be prosecuted.
“By not complying with environmental regulations, these people
are also benefiting from an unfair commercial advantage compared to
those companies who take their responsibilities seriously.” added
Mr King.
The illegal waste carriers were fined more than £2,000 each
following the charges brought by the Environment Agency under
Section 1(1) and (5) of the Control of Pollution Act (Amendment
Act) 1989.