The Royal Borough is reminding residents they are required to check that anyone who removes waste from their property has the correct authorisation to do so.

Following a case in which a woman was fined £400 for giving a cold caller £50 to take away her rubbish the Council is highlighting that fly tipping could be stamped out if people stopped paying illegal waste carriers to get rid of their rubbish.

Investigation tracks down the culprit

The woman, who has now paid the £400 fine, was traced from an investigation into rubbish dumped in Kellner Road, Plumstead led by the Council's Plumstead Task Force.

During an interview with the officers she said a man had knocked on her door and offered to dispose of her rubbish for £50. She claimed the man had insisted that he did have the authorisation to collect waste.

Clearing waste costs us all

Householders should make sure their waste is disposed of correctly under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The Royal Borough takes a zero tolerance approach to fly tipping and those found responsible can expect a £400 on-the-spot fine or, if prosecuted, fines running into thousands of pounds.

Clearing the Royal Borough's streets of illegally dumped waste is a major and costly operation. From April to October this year the Council cleared 658 tonnes of fly tipping from across the borough at a cost of almost £449,000.

A reminder that it's your own responsibility

Councillor Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment, said: "We took a tough line in this case because people who pay illegal fly tippers are supporting the activities of criminals who take payment to dump rubbish. If no one pays people without authorisation to remove waste this illegal industry could be stamped out.

"We hope this case serves as a reminder to people that they are legally responsible for ensuring their rubbish is disposed of correctly."