The streets of Streatham have always been known for being busy and bubbling with life. Streatham is a much-loved, diverse residential district and suburb in South London. You can find everything here, from resorts to an award-winning garden and Streatham Space Project. But today the West End of the South is facing a new challenge. Fly-tipping has become a visible problem on its streets.
It’s become extremely important for both businesses and residents to understand the problems fly-tipping is causing and how to dispose of waste properly. It will not only help re-beautify the streets of Streatham, but also proper rubbish removal in Streatham ensures you’re not penalised.
This is a practical guide that will help you learn more about fly-tipping and the problems associated with it. We’ll take a detailed look at the following:
- What fly-tipping is
- Why it’s a growing issue locally
- How to dispose of rubbish the right way
Fly-Tipping: What You Need to Know
Fly-tipping means illegal dumping of waste or bulky items on land that is not suitable for waste disposal. It is a criminal offence in the UK. Fly-tipped waste includes rubbish, large domestic items, such as fridges and mattresses, garden waste, tyres and clinical waste. It also includes waste from construction.
Fly-tipping can be categorised into two parts:
- Small-scale dumping
- Large-scale dumping
Small-Scale Dumping
Illegal small-scale dumping of waste in Streatham includes the following:
- Several bin bags of rubbish
- Pieces of furniture
- Small commercial waste loads
- Garden waste
- Small amount of medical waste
Large-Scale Fly-Tipping
Large-scale fly-tipping of waste includes these:
- A lorryload (20 tonnes) or more of tipped rubbish
- Hazardous or industrial waste
- Large amount of medical waste
- Demolition and excavation waste
Why Is Fly-Tipping Illegal in the UK?
Dumping waste illegally on unsanctioned ground is not only an aesthetic problem but also a leading cause of accidents. Most importantly, it causes land pollution and is harmful for everyone and the entire ecosystem. Moreover, incorrect waste disposal contaminates surrounding land and waterways and causes harm to wildlife.
In the UK, there are strict laws for producers and transporters of waste. These laws ensure that waste is properly disposed of at the right, designated location. In the UK, only holders of a Waste Carrier Registration can recover, transport, deposit or dispose of waste. It’s worth mentioning that waste can be deposited only at officially authorised sites.
So, these laws are mandatory to follow because they are made to protect the land and its people. But illegal dumping of waste has become a serious issue not only in Streatham but throughout England. Hence, fly-tipping is illegal. Anyone caught fly-tipping waste is committing a serious offence.
The Laws Against Fly-Tipping in Streatham
As previously mentioned, fly-tipping is illegal in Streatham, as it is throughout the UK. The penalties against fly-tipping depend on four major factors:
- Seriousness of the crime
- The cost of cleaning the area
- Impact on the environment
- The extent of the consequences of disposal
Laws Against Household Fly-Tipping
If householders don’t ensure proper disposal of waste in designated areas, they face government-imposed fines in the UK. In Streatham, there are two kinds of laws against fly-tipping. The penalties depend on the nature and severity of the offence. Depending on the severity of fly-tipping, a person may face a CBO or a civil injunction.
If an individual is accused and found guilty of fly-tipping repeatedly, a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) is filed against them. This bars them from visiting specific places. Breaking this ban results in a 5-year imprisonment.
If, however, someone is accused of fly-tipping a small amount of biodegradable household waste, a civil injunction can be issued against them. A criminal conviction is not required for a civil injunction to be issued. When a civil injunction is issued, the person will be ordered to stop dumping waste or to clean up the site. Breaching the injunction can amount to contempt of court and may result in a fine or imprisonment.
Laws Against Fly-Tipping for Businesses
Minor offences, such as failing to provide required documentation or failure of a small business to register as a waste carrier, may result in a fixed penalty depending on the extent of garbage disposed of.
Repeated offences result in a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) or civil injunction being issued against the business, depending on the seriousness of the crime. This may also result in forfeiture of a vehicle to interrupt or prevent the illegal activities of the business. The driver’s licence of the owner of the vehicle can also be cancelled in such cases.
How to Report Fly-Tipping
For household fly-tipping: You can report fly-tipping to your local council through their website or by calling their environmental services team. Some councils have a dedicated online reporting form for such issues.
Apart from this, every producer of waste has an obligation to make sure that waste is disposed of properly. This obligation extends to homeowners too. You must hand your waste to a local authority or an Environment Agency-registered business. If you’re handing your waste to anybody else, make sure to note down their waste carrier number. You can check it on the Environment Agency’s Public Register.
For commercial fly-tipping: Reporting commercial fly-tipping in Streatham is almost the same as reporting household fly-tipping. You can either contact local authorities or report it to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. While doing so, ensure you do the following:
- Note the location
- Type of waste
- Any identifying details such as addresses on letters or vehicle registrations
- Don’t touch or move the waste
Note: Generally, if waste is disposed of on your private property, then you’re responsible for cleaning it. But you can still report the incident to the local council. When you do so, they will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
How to Deal with Fly-Tipped Waste
Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts of how to deal with fly-tipped waste in Streatham.
List of do’s:
- Try to figure out the quantity of the waste
- Without touching the waste, try to figure out what the waste consists of
- Make sure to note down the day, date, and time
- Also note the exact location, what was tipped, and the quantity
- Make a special note if it was disposed of near a water body
- If there are any witnesses present at the scene, note their name and address
List of don’ts:
- Don’t touch the waste, as it may contain hazardous material like syringes or broken glass
- Don’t interfere with the site, since there may be valuable evidence that you must not tamper with
What to do if you see someone fly-tipping:
- Do not approach them
- Note down the number of people and their appearance
- Note down the details of any vehicles, such as colour and registration number (if possible)
How to Dispose of Rubbish the Right Way
In Streatham, disposing of waste is easy. You can dispose of waste in two ways primarily:
Council Bulky Waste Collection
The Lambeth Council offers a bulky waste collection service for larger household waste items. This includes household items such as old furniture, mattresses, and outdated appliances. Booking their services is easy; you can book their service directly through the council. You can also donate products that are still in working condition to a local charity.
A Licensed Private Rubbish Removal Streatham Company
If you’re dealing with larger volumes of household or commercial waste, then contacting a licensed private rubbish removal company is the best option. Also, it’s the faster alternative. Unlike council collections, where you have to wait for a scheduled slot, a private waste disposal service offers same-day or next-day collection. They also take care of the heavy lifting and sorting items for recycling.
The Final Word
Although fly-tipping is an increasingly prevalent issue in Streatham, responsible rubbish disposal does not have to be difficult. Understanding what constitutes fly-tipping and being aware of the laws and penalties against it are important. More importantly, your willingness to report the crime can be a step you take to help maintain Streatham’s cleanliness and safety. As for when you have to dispose of your own waste, taking the time to opt for a legal method of disposal will save you money and protect the local community.
Safe and Trusted Rubbish Removal Service in Streatham, England
Rubbish removal in Streatham has never been easier. RB Waste offers fully licensed rubbish removal services for houses and businesses in Streatham. Same-day service, more than 20 years of experience, and recycling of up to 95% of all the waste removed are just some of the benefits that RB Waste has to offer. Contact us today for a free and no-obligation quotation.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between fly-tipping and littering?
A: Fly-tipping involves dumping larger amounts of waste, such as bags of rubbish, furniture, or construction waste, on land without permission. Whereas littering typically refers to discarding small items like wrappers or cans in public spaces.
2. What happens if I hire someone to remove my rubbish and they fly-tip it?
A: You can still be held liable, even if you didn’t dump the waste yourself. Always check that the person or company collecting your rubbish holds a valid Waste Carrier Registration.
3. How do I report fly-tipping in Streatham?
A: You can report it directly to Lambeth Council through their website or environmental services team. You can also contact the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 for large-scale or hazardous fly-tipping.
4. What are the penalties for fly-tipping in the UK?
A: Penalties vary depending on the severity of the offence. They range from fixed penalty notices and civil injunctions to Criminal Behaviour Orders. Penalties for fly-tipping also include fines and even imprisonment for repeat or serious offences.
5. Is it cheaper to use the council or a private rubbish removal company in Streatham?
A: It depends on your needs. Council bulky waste collection can be cost-effective for a few large items, but a private company like RB Waste is often faster, more flexible, and better suited to larger volumes of household or commercial waste.
