Wiltshire Council is stepping up its fight against fly‑tipping and reminding people to dispose of their waste properly - or they could face a fine.

The council's Stop at Source (SAS) campaign focuses on the key role residents play in preventing waste from being illegally dumped, and on how they can avoid being fined for someone else's crime.

More people are using informal waste collection services - particularly those advertised as cheap 'tip runs' on social media. But if that waste ends up dumped in our countryside, the householder - not just the fly‑tipper - can be held responsible. And that could mean a £600 fixed penalty notice for the householder or prosecution.

SAS is designed to help every resident stay on the right side of the law by taking simple steps before handing their waste to anyone else. Anyone giving their waste to another person must follow these three checks. They take seconds - but could prevent a fine:

• Check for a waste carrier's licence
• Take their vehicle registration and details
• Get a receipt or waste transfer note.

A record of what was taken, by whom, and when helps to protect the householder if their waste is fly-tipped as it allows council officers to pursue the actual offender - meaning the householder won't be held liable. Failure to take these details may lead to a fine for the householder if the fly-tipper can't be traced.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, said: Our award-winning We're Targeting Fly‑tippers campaign has already helped reduce illegal dumping in Wiltshire, and we're catching more offenders than ever.

But we must go further. Stop at Source warns residents about the real risks of handing rubbish to unverified 'tip run' operators. If your waste is dumped, you could receive a fixed penalty notice or face prosecution.

By checking the waste carrier's licence, taking vehicle details, and getting a receipt, you protect yourself -you help us Stop at Source.

People must be extremely cautious when using these waste collectors as these people can - and do - dump rubbish in our beautiful countryside. Even some licensed carriers have been caught fly‑tipping, which is why gathering vehicle details and documenting the handover is essential.

We spend more than £250,000 each year tackling fly-tipping and with your help, we can Stop at Source.

To find out more about preventing fly‑tipping or to report an incident, people should go to: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.

Link