Environmental Protection Act

Section 87(1) Littering

Littering is not only an offence, it is anti social and costs the Council tax payer many thousands of pounds each year to clear. If you drop litter on land in a public place you could receive a fixed penalty notice for £50, or you may face prosecution where the fine may be up to £2,500.

Section 34 (1)

Storage of Waste

It is the duty of any person who produces, keeps, or disposes of controlled waste (controlled waste includes domestic, commercial and industrial waste) to ensure that all waste must be packaged in suitable containers so that it cannot fall out, blow away or escape from the premises.

Steps must be taken to secure the waste against unauthorised removal. Security should be sufficient to prevent the breaking open of containers and removal of waste by vandals, thieves, children, animals, accident or weather.

Transfer of waste

Any person disposing of waste must ensure that the person removing the waste is either a local authority or a licensed waste removal company:

It is advisable to ask for proof from your waste contractor that he is an authorised person, if there is any doubt; check with the environment agency who have a list of licensed waste contractors.

A written description of the waste must be provided to the person who removes it. This should indicate the quantity and type of materials in the waste. A simple description of the composition of the waste or the activity which produces it will normally suffice.

Section 47

Provision of suitable containers

This Council can, if required, specify the type and number of waste containers required by a business, needed to contain the amount of waste generated by a business.

Section 93

Street Litter Control Notices

If, in certain areas, there is a litter problem caused by occupiers of premises then the local authority may designate it as a street litter control area. This section allows an authority to force businesses to clean the area around their premises, provide and empty bins and do anything else which may be necessary to remove the litter. It is in your interest to control the rubbish coming from your premises to avoid it becoming litter. If you do not, your local authority may step in and compel you to clean up around your premises.

Abandoned shopping trolleys

This Council has an agreement with many of the local supermarkets whereby the supermarkets will collect their own trolleys which have been abandoned. Reports of trolleys to the Council will be notified to the supermarket and, if not collected, will be picked up by the Council and charged for their return.