Bedford Borough Council say they’ll issue fines of £300 to people whose rubbish has been dumped, even if they didn’t dump it themselves.
The new Fixed Penalty Notice is to tackle fly-tipping and prevent people using unauthorised ‘traders’ from getting rid of the waste for them.
The Council already issues fines to those who actually fly-tip across the Borough. But, anyone disposing of their household waste has a ‘duty of care’ to ensure it is disposed of correctly.
The new £300 fine will be issued to people who do not take this duty of care and don’t use people authorised to dispose of their waste responsibly.
Council bosses say anyone not using someone who is authorised to dispose of rubbish is partly responsible for waste being dumped, making the area unsightly and unsafe, and a threat to the environment.
The individual who created the waste will be fined, alongside the person who committed the fly-tipping.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “We would ask everyone to work with us as we crack down on fly-tipping across Bedford Borough.
“The best way to do this is to always ensure that you are disposing of any household waste correctly; with a licensed waste carrier and to get a ‘Waste Transfer Note’.
“Otherwise, if the waste is later found fly-tipped you can be held responsible and what may have seemed like a great deal can go extremely sour with a fine of £300.”
This new Fixed Penalty Notice follows the Government’s introduction of a Fixed Penalty Notice for breaches of the household waste duty of care.
