Fly-tipping incidents emphasise importance of licensing in waste management

Fly-tipping incidents illustrate the importance of ensuring businesses have a waste carriers licence.

While large-scale fly tipping incidents have reflected the harm those operating without a licence and acting without impunity can cause, it underscores the importance of ensuring businesses that operate or use waste collection vehicles hold a waste carrier’s licence.

The licence applies to any business that:

Transports waste.

Buys, sells or disposes of waste.

Arranges for someone else to buy, sell, or dispose of waste.

There are different processes and regulators in place depending on the part of the UK in which a business operates. The Environment Agency covers England, Natural Resources Wales covers Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency covers Scotland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is responsible for Northern Ireland.

Those that fail to register but provide one of the services above face unlimited fines, prosecutions and reputational damage.

Tom Griffith, Manager – Member Advice Centre (MAC), at Logistics UK said: “Fly tipping affects everyone, from members of the public to operators and competitors in the waste sector.

“Waste producers are required under the waste duty of care to ensure their waste is classified and managed correctly through its complete journey. Those operating without a waste carrier’s licence hold an unfair advantage over compliant operators who do, due to the costs involved in waste disposal.

“All registered carriers will be able to provide their waste carrier’s licence number, and if they are unable to do so, they may be moving waste illegally.

“Logistics UK’s waste forum working group shares best practices and fleet compliance in areas such as driver management and vehicle roadworthiness, as well as improvements to on and off-road safety practices and standards, to ensure overall excellence in the waste sector.”

The Waste Forum Working Group is open to any member of Logistics UK that operates or uses waste collection vehicles in the course of their business. If you are interested in participating in the group, contact the Secretary, Tom Griffith.