Road stop in Bexley halts illegal waste carriers
Environment Agency and partners check licences and transfer notes.
Environment Agency officers worked with police and Bexley council to check waste carrying vehicles in the town
Environment Agency officers, working with London Borough of Bexley, the Met Police and Openreach, were out in Bexley. They were checking vehicles carrying waste or vehicles that routinely carry waste as part of their business, to make sure their paperwork was in order.
The Environment Agency was inspecting vehicles to check they had a valid waste carrier’s licence. They also checked they had a required waste transfer note describing what waste they were carrying, where they picked the waste up from and where they were taking it to.
The Environment Agency and its partners stopped 21 vehicles carrying waste. They issued 2 fixed penalty notices for non compliance and are considering further enforcement action for 7 businesses or individuals who also weren’t compliant with the regulations.
Matt Higginson, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
This should serve as a warning to those who would flout the law that we and our partners are still fighting to put a stop to waste crime and we won’t hesitate to take action.
To help avoid giving your waste to an illegal waste carrier and your waste ending up at an illegal waste site, we encourage you to ask for your waste collector’s waste carrier’s registration number and ask to see their waste transfer note, they must be able to produce both. We also encourage people to avoid paying in cash.
Joint investigations will continue with the Environment Agency and if convicted, those responsible could face extensive fines and even prison sentences.
Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is reminded to report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline by calling 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
You can check your waste collectors waste carriers registration online or call 03708 506 506.
This month saw the first anniversary of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime. The Unit was formed by the Environment Agency and partners, aiming to stop serious and organised crime in the UK waste industry.
Further information
Everyone involved made sure the operation was conducted with social distancing rules in place with correct PPE to ensure everyone involved was safe.