They arranged for the waste to be removed through Facebook Marketplace, paid in cash and did not check if the carrier was licensed. West Northamptonshire Council’s Environmental Crime Team investigated the case and issued the fixed penalty notice after the resident was found to be failing in the duty of care to ensure their waste was handled properly. The resident, who cannot be named as the offer and then payment of a fixed penalty discharges their liability of the offence, also had to pay to have the waste removed from the farmland and disposed of legally. The action follows a reminder from the council last month urging residents to take care when arranging waste collections. People are reminded to take a few simple steps before handing over their waste: - Check the person or company is a registered waste carrier
- Ask to see their licence and note vehicle details
- Get a waste transfer note
- Avoid cash-only payments
- Be cautious of social media adverts – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Councillor Andrew Last – Cabinet Member for HR, Corporate and Regulatory Services, said: “This case shows how easy it is to get caught out, even when you are trying to do the right thing. “If you use an unlicensed carrier, your waste could be dumped illegally and you could face a fine. The good news is a few simple checks can protect you and help keep our communities clean. “We will continue to take action against those who damage our environment, but residents can also support this work by taking care when arranging collections.” People can check a waste carrier is properly registered with the Environment Agency. If you run a small business or need bulky items collected, the Council offers competitive services for these areas. Residents can also find more information about how to dispose of household waste safely on the Council website. | 
