Herts homes made to pay for fly-tipped rubbish

18 August 2019, 07:18 | Updated: 18 August 2019, 07:20

If you live in the North Herts District and you fly-tip your rubbish - or just allow your rubbish to be fly tipped.. you could now be fined up to £300 - or end up in court.

The District Council has new powers to issue fixed penalty notices.

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North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) has introduced new powers enabling them to fine householders who have neglected to dispose of their waste through a licensed waste carrier.

These Fixed Penalty Notice fines, which are an alternative to prosecution, are a measure to encourage household owners to go through a series of checks as part of their duty of care before handing over their waste to a waste disposal person or company.

HOW TO CHECK WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANIES ARE LEGIT

* Checking that the person or company taking away household waste is registered as a licensed waste carrier with the Environment Agency

* Asking the waste carrier where they will dispose of the waste

* Recording the waste carriers registration number or take a photograph of it

* Keeping a receipt or waste transfer note which includes a description of the waste and company used

* Recording or taking a photograph of the vehicle used and its registration number

NHDC say if a household owner has not thoroughly checked the legitimacy of the waste carrier and handed over their waste to an unlicensed carrier who subsequently fly-tips the waste, the household owner will be liable for a fine of £300.

Failure to pay the £300 fine will result in a Magistrates Court appearance with an unlimited fine and criminal prosecution, resulting in a criminal record.