Fly-tippers are being warned that rubbish could be traced back to them, resulting in costly fines.
Even if rubbish is fly-tipped in neighbouring boroughs, or dumped by somebody else, Hillingdon Council can work with neighbouring boroughs to find out who is responsible.
Andrea Brown was redecorating her West Drayton home when she was cold-called by two men offering a rubbish clearing service. She paid them £160 to take rubbish away but they fly-tipped it on a road in Buckinghamshire.
She said “I didn’t really want to agree for them to take my rubbish but I felt I had no other option because I live on my own and I don’t drive. Weeks later I got a call from South Buckinghamshire District Council to say I’d dumped the rubbish on Mansion Lane.
“I would urge people to only use trusted and reputable rubbish clearance services and ask them for a receipt showing where they have taken your rubbish. Don’t be pressured into making a hasty decision like I did.”
Councillor Douglas Mills, cabinet member for community, commerce and regeneration, said: “Over the past few months there has been an increase in the number of fly-tipping reports both in the London Borough of Hillingdon and the neighbouring area of South Buckinghamshire. Some of these have been traced back to Hillingdon addresses.
“Fly-tippers can be fined up to £50,000 in magistrates’ courts and in serious cases there might be community punishment orders or prison sentences.
“If you have waste to dispose of, please take responsibility for it and ensure it is dealt with properly. If you employ a professional waste carrier they must be registered with the Environment Agency and give you a Waste Transfer Note which shows where the rubbish is to be taken.”
For more information on recycling, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/recycling.
A list of registered waste carriers can be found on the Environment Agency website, www.gov.uk/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information.
